Hauliers, crofters and farmers continued to suffer under a ‘poor ferry service’ just as Scotland's public spending watchdog had raised concerns over £87,000 paid in bonuses to six senior managers at Ferguson shipyard in Inverclyde.

Audit Scotland reported that it was 'unacceptable' the money was not cleared by Scottish Government. The concerns emerged from Auditor General, Stephen Boyle, and come a month after The Herald newspaper revealed that the Scottish Government bill for nationalising Ferguson Marine, which is delivering two long-delayed lifeline ferries, had soared to more than £450m.

Commenting on the ferry service, well-known livestock haulier, Ian Murie, said: “We are having a bit of bother getting on and off Mull at the moment. The boat that goes from Oban to Mull is just not fit for purpose.

"It is too low for high-sided livestock lorries and we cannot get a full load of hay or straw onto the island. We are having to take off 2.5-tonnes of bales to get the lorries onto the smaller boat being used.

"We are suffering as we can't charge the customers anymore than we do, so we are standing the loss at the moment. There has been a offer of a couple free trips from the ferry company, though.

“The Corran Ferry has also been off since November, so farmers moving hoggs back from wintering all have to come by Oban, adding time and miles onto the journey. They have also cut the number of boats going to Islay. There were four loads of cattle which had to wait overnight on Islay to get to the mainland.”

Lewis crofter and independent councillor, Donald Macsween, said: “From April onwards, it is going to be carnage. We have a less frequent service now than we did 10 years ago and more tourists wanting to come and visit.

"As a crofter, you are so dependant on the weather, so planning can be difficult. In the summer, you could look at a week’s worth of sailings and only have a single sailing free for seven days.

"You can't do anything last minute it all needs weeks of planning, which is hard with the weather and shearing sheep or attempting to make hay. If this was the M8 having the trouble, more would be done, but I think it is out of sight and out of mind when it comes to the government for us here in the islands.”