FERRY passengers are being warned of major disruption to services to and from Arran because of bad weather.

Forecast high winds mean that Brodick services will be diverted to and from Gourock instead of Ardrossan, or will be cancelled altogether.

The service changes begin on the afternoon of Thursday, June 27.

The 1.55pm departure from Brodick will now leave at 2.10pm and will sail to Gourock, where it's due to arrive at 4.30pm.

MV Isle of Arran will then depart Gourock at 5pm, with a scheduled arrival time in Brodick of 7.20pm.

CalMac says vehicle drivers intending to travel to Arran should arrive in Gourock no later than 4pm.

For foot passengers, coaches will leave Ardrossan harbour for Gourock at 3.15pm.

That means some travellers from Ardrossan to Arran will face a total journey of more than four hours to reach Brodick.

As a result of the weather issues, compounded by problems for the ferry docking at Ardrossan during high winds, three other services today will be cancelled.

The 4.40pm and 7.20pm sailings from Brodick and the 6pm sailing from Ardrossan will not operate.

On Friday, June 28, the 7am sailing from Ardrossan will also be cancelled as the vessel with berth in Brodick overnight.

CalMac says that the crossing time on sailings between Troon and Brodick, using the chartered catamaran MV Alfred, may be extended because of the bad weather forecast, though no Troon-Brodick services have been cancelled as things stand. 

The bad weather forecast also means the third Arran route, between Claonaig and Lochranza, is "liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice".

Look out for further updates during the day or see calmac.co.uk/service-status.