THE Sandbanks to Shell Bay Ferry service was closed this morning (Monday) for essential repairs.

The ferry was due to be out of action for four to five hours after the service was suspended at 10.30am.

A statement from the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company said: "We will do our utmost to ensure that we return to service as quickly as possible and apologise to all our customers for the inconvenience this will cause."