A FERRY was left stranded in the Solent when one of its pipes was damaged - just a week after it was back on the water following a £2million refit.

Red Funnel customers were today left waiting at the dock while engineers carried out a repair to a fractured pipe.

The ferry, the Red Osprey arrived at East Cowes at 3.20pm and left for Southampton at 3.45pm - 15 minutes behind schedule.

Readers contacted the Daily Echo reporting that the vessel was adrift but this was denied by the company.

The firm confirmed that no fuel was spilt and that its services are running as normal again.

A spokesman said: “Red Funnel can confirm a slight delay to the arrival of its 2pm sailing from Southampton to East Cowes which arrived at 3.20pm due to a small pipe fracture.

“A repair was completed by the ship's engineers and the vessel left East Cowes at 3.45pm.

“Contrary to some reports, at no point was the vessel adrift and there was no release of any fuel or oil into the environment.”