A businessman was left fuming after a ferry company told him his family was not allowed to travel because his wife is pregnant.

Tim Morley, his wife Sharon and their seven-year-old son Connor were due to travel to Jersey for a family party.

They had checked with ferry operator Condor if it was alright for Sharon, who is 31 weeks pregnant, to travel and were told that as long as she had a doctor's certificate to say she was healthy she could travel until she was 34 weeks pregnant.

But hours before they were due to catch the ferry, the family received a call from Condor saying that they were now not allowed to travel.

Mr Morley of Osmington, Weymouth, said: "We were due to travel to Jersey as a surprise for my parents' golden wedding anniversary.

"My brother, who I haven't seen for 16 years, has flown from Canada, we'd arranged to take Connor out of school and put the dog in the kennel. We were ready to go when we received the call saying that because the crossing was expected to be rough we weren't allowed to travel.

"We had checked with Condor and they said that the limit for travelling was 34 weeks pregnant, my wife is 31 weeks pregnant.

"We even got a doctor's certificate to say that she was fit to travel.

"We're all very disappointed. I won't get to see my brother now. Condor didn't offer us an alternative and they haven't said whether or not we will get our money back," said Mr Morley who runs Arcade Antiques, in the Hardye Arcade, Dorchester.

Nick Dobbs, general manager for sales and marketing for Condor Ferries, said the decision not to allow Mrs Morley to travel was taken by the ship's master.

"In the interests of customers we have terms and conditions. Although we sailed, the sea state was expected to be quite extreme and in the interests of the customer and at the decision of the master it was decided that she couldn't sail. The master's decision is final.

"Although they had a function to go to I am sure that ultimately they will understand."

Mr Morley said he had booked the trip through a travel agency and Mr Dobbs said it would be up to the agency to refund him.