ARRAN'S ferry woes continued at the weekend when around 60 people were left stranded on the island after thick fog cancelled the new ferry.

Passengers, including a children's football team, had to scramble around to find - and pay for - accommodation on the island.

It came just a day after the new ferry, the catamaran MV Alfred, started on the Ardrossan to Arran route.

Some passengers were refused boarding to the 6.30pm service when the 7.20pm sailing was cancelled at just two hours notice.

Operator CalMac said the MV Alfred had reached capacity quickly. The catamaran, which can carry 430 passengers and 98 cars, had been hired from Pentland Ferries at a cost of £9m, to support the main ferry, MV Caledonian isles, which can carry up to 1000 passengers.

Reports claimed police were called to Brodick harbour as passengers attempted board the 6.30pm sailing, which was held back for a further 30 minutes.

CalMac said the MV Alfred reached capacity, despite many empty seats seen on board

Tim Lush, from Glasgow, was on Arran for a day trip. 

He told the BBC: "They let through a wave of foot passengers and then a second wave came on, but they were being blocked at the entrance.

"There were only one and a half lanes out of three filled with cars. It only looked at about 50 per cent capacity."

One group left behind told BBC Scotland they had to pay hundreds of pounds to hire a minibus and find a B&B for the night.

The 18 children from Prestwick Caley 2010s football team were on a day trip to climb Goatfell mountain.

"We were booked on the last sailing, but got a text saying it was cancelled but the catamaran was running," team chaperone Laura told the BBC.

"When we got there, they wouldn't let us on because we were not pre-booked - but you can't book the new catamaran."

The Scottish government has provided £9m for the nine-month long charter of MV Alfred

Laura added: "We had to pay £300 for a hostel, £80 for a bus and £50 for pizza for the kids."

"I understand that these things happen and you can't sort the weather, but it was chaotic and poorly handled."

Laura said the community rallied to help passengers at Brodick, with soup and sandwiches brought for those left behind.

Problems have been plaguing CalMac's west coast fleet for months.

CalMac said heavy fog had affected several routes across the Clyde and Argyll on Saturday, resulting in the cancellation of the final sailing.

Area operations manager Don McKillop said: "This was an extremely difficult decision to make, but sailing in those conditions was not possible.

"Full capacity on MV Alfred was reached quickly, meaning that, unfortunately, several foot passengers could not get on the last ferry."

CalMac said staff in Brodick worked "extremely hard" to find accommodation for passengers and a small number were supported to stay in the terminal building.