Sixty passengers needed to be rescued after a ferry ran aground off the coast of Orkney.

RNLI vessels went to the scene after the MV Pentalina issued a mayday broadcast on Saturday night.

Pentland Ferries mentioned smoke was detected within the engine room earlier than the MV Pentalina grew to become grounded on the village of St Margaret's Hope, on one of many southernmost islands within the northern Scotland archipelago.

All of the passengers, together with three kids and an toddler, had been evacuated, in addition to among the crew.

It is known eight crew members have remained on the vessel to assist handle the state of affairs.

The coastguard mentioned: "St Margaret's Hope, Stromness and Kirkwall Coastguard rescue teams, alongside Stromness and Longhope RNLI lifeboats, responded to a passenger vessel reporting a fire and having subsequently grounded, with minor water ingress, near St Margaret's Hope at approximately 7.30pm.

"A mayday broadcast was issued. The hearth was extinguished and passengers had been evacuated by lifeboat to St Margaret's Hope, the place they had been met by the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland.

"All passengers have been reported safe and well."

The MV Pentalina returned to service earlier this week to permit one other ferry, the MV Alfred, to service CalMac routes on the west coast of Scotland.

An announcement from Pentland Ferries mentioned: "All passengers that were onboard MV Pentalina are safe and are either at home or at their accommodation.

"Our buyer companies group are contacting all prospects which might be as a result of journey. Further updates will comply with."