Isle of Wight ferry firm Wightlink has announced it is introducing later sailings on its Yarmouth to Lymington route from next year.

As already reported by the County Press, evening crossings on the Ryde to Portsmouth FastCat will also continue.

CEO Keith Greenfield has told the County Press the services are being operated at times "people say they want them".

Starting from January 5, 2024, there will be later evening sailings between Lymington and Yarmouth at weekends.

Read more: Isle of Wight ferry firm Wightlink on later FastCat sailings in 2024

An extra crew of ten has been hired, but the 6.20am from Yarmouth has been pushed back to 7am, seven days a week, Wightlink said.

The last ferry from Lymington will be the 9.05pm, while the final boat from Yarmouth will be 9.50pm on Fridays and Mondays all year round.

Mr Greenfield said these are the "most popular days" for people arriving and leaving the Island.

From Monday, March 25, when the summer timetable starts, there will be additional later sailings on Saturday and Sunday.

On the FastCat route, departures will continue to operate from the mainland at 9.45pm and 10.45pm throughout the year.   

Late-night sailings on the FastCat were re-introduced in March following a public appeal.

Wightlink said the reason they weren't brought in earlier was because the demand "wasn't there".

While Mr Greenfield said the sailings are not crowded now, he is hopeful "we can grow them from this point".

Asked whether there was a chance later sailings could be removed if demand falls, he said: "We don't build in a way that we are thinking of taking things off again."

He added that there will be no timetable changes to the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route.