A ferry, which sails between Poole and the Channel Islands, has been cancelled this morning due to technical difficulties.

The cancellation comes after an overnight dive inspection revealed that the Condor Liberation had suffered an engine fault.

Divers found damage had been caused to three jet propulsion buckets.

The fast ferry was pulled from service yesterday and will be out of action while the vessel is repaired. Remedial work is expected until Monday November 6.

The Condor Liberation is also booked to enter dry dock on November 7 until December 13.

Condor Rapide is operating between Channel Islands, UK and France in its place while the work is carried out.

Chief executive of Condor Ferries, Paul Luxon said the company was "very disappointed" that it had become necessary to make the schedule changes, especially at half-term.

He said the company had started implementing its contingency plan at 4am yesterday morning and had deployed extra staff and opened its office at 7.30am.

The news came too late for some passengers, who travelled to the morning sailing to the Channel Islands before learning of the cancellation.

"Is the Liberation an actual boat or a myth?" fumed one user on social media, adding: "Thanks for letting us get to Poole before telling us re cancelled."

This latest incident is another in a list of technical issues which have hit Condor Liberation since her arrival in Poole.

In 2015 she suffered electrical problems, bad weather and struck the quay at St Peter Port in Guernsey, when berthing in strong winds.

The company issued an open letter of apology to customers and launched an independent review into its “suitability and performance”.

Sailings were cancelled during June 2016 due to an engine fault following a spell with the ferry running on reduced power.

Condor Rapide will operate the following schedule today:

Rescheduled Times:

From St Malo to Jersey Planned Times: Departure 17:50 Arrival 18:10 Rescheduled Times: Departure 08:00 Arrival 08:20

From Jersey to Guernsey Planned Times: Departure NEW Arrival NEW Rescheduled Times: Departure 09:20 Arrival 10:20

From Guernsey to Poole Planned Times: Departure NEW Arrival NEW Rescheduled Times: Departure 11:00 Arrival 14:00

From Poole to Guernsey Planned Times: Departure NEW Arrival NEW Rescheduled Times: Departure 15:30 Arrival 18:30

From Guernsey to Jersey Planned Times: Departure NEW Arrival NEW Rescheduled Times: Departure 19:00 Arrival 20:00

From Jersey to St Malo Planned Times: Departure 19:05 Arrival 21:25 Rescheduled Times: Departure 20:45 Arrival 23:05

Cancelled Service:

08:00 Poole to Guernsey

11:30 Guernsey to Jersey

13:30 Jersey to Guernsey

15:10 Poole to Guernsey

For daily updates on the revised schedule visit www.condorferries.co.uk/destinations/sailing-updates.aspx