Sixty passengers had to be rescued after a ferry ran aground off the coast of Orkney.

RNLI vessels went to the scene after the MV Pentalina issued a mayday broadcast on Saturday evening.

Pentland Ferries said smoke was detected in the engine room before the MV Pentalina became grounded at the village of St Margaret’s Hope, on one of the southernmost islands in the northern Scotland archipelago.

All of the passengers, including three children and an infant, were evacuated, as well as some of the crew.

It is understood eight crew members have remained on the vessel to help manage the situation.

The coastguard said: “St Margaret’s Hope, Stromness and Kirkwall Coastguard rescue teams, alongside Stromness and Longhope RNLI lifeboats, responded to a passenger vessel reporting a fire and having subsequently grounded, with minor water ingress, near St Margaret’s Hope at approximately 7.30pm.

“A mayday broadcast was issued. The fire was extinguished and passengers were evacuated by lifeboat to St Margaret’s Hope, where they were met by the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland.

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“All passengers have been reported safe and well.”

The MV Pentalina returned to service earlier this week to allow another ferry, the MV Alfred, to service CalMac routes on the west coast of Scotland.

A statement from Pentland Ferries said: “All passengers that were onboard MV Pentalina are safe and are either at home or at their accommodation.

“Our customer services team are contacting all customers that are due to travel. Further updates will follow.”

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