EXCURSION VESSELS CALLS AT BOURNEMOUTH CANCELLED

Planned visits to Bournemouth Pier by the historic coastal excursion vessels ps Waverley during September and mv Balmoral during June have been cancelled due to damage suffered at the Dorset pier over the past winter.

But on a more positive note, the historic pier at the neighbouring resort of Swanage has secured £500,000 of government funding as part of a £2.2million project to revamp the 120-year-old timber structure, which too has suffered from storm damage over recent years.

The paddle steamer Waverley and former Red Funnel ferry Balmoral are both scheduled to call at Swanage this year.