The Isle of Cumbrae ferry users group have welcomed Cal Mac's move to introduce earlier ferries on Sundays.

The addition of an 0815 service from Largs and a 0830 from Cumbrae on Sunday mornings has been agreed by Transport Scotland for this winter's timetable.

The 'News' understands that calls for earlier morning sailings during week days were not given the green light due to budget restrictions.

However, the earlier sailings on a Sunday is an improvement which was raised with the Cal Mac chief Martin Dorchester when the 'News' met with him for an interview earlier this year.

Chairman of the Ferry Users group, Bill Steele said: "Its very good news for the island we now have a ferry one hour earlier on a Sunday and have a sailing at 10.00am as well.

"This will make a big improvement to the Sunday service with islanders now able to leave the island at 8.30an instead of the present 9.30am.

"It has taken a long number of years to get earlier ferries on Sundays I am very happy with this result."

The winter timetable starts this year on 24 October.