Caledonian MacBrayne has delayed the launch of the company's new booking and ticketing platform has been delayed.

The ferry operator had been due to launch the new system later this month.

But it says that it wants to concentrate on the challenges currently affecting many of the company's services.

The new platform had been due to launch on Tuesday, April 25.

But CalMac now says that following a decision to focus on the "urgent issues" affecting several of the firm's Clyde and Hebrides routes, the launch will not now take place until May 16.

The move follows months of disruption on many of the company's west coast services as technical breakdowns have hit vessels in the firm's ageing fleet.

Chief executive Robbie Drummond said: “We have taken the decision to defer the launch of CalMac’s new ticketing and booking system from April 25 until May 16.

"With the current levels of disruption and delays to many of our services just now, our focus should be on handling these urgent issues.

“This delay will not affect bookings being made by customers in the current system, or on the delivery of ferry services.

"The programme is ready to go live, having already gone through intense testing, an independent assurance audit five dress cut-over rehearsals, and staff are fully trained.

“Postponing the launch from April 25 will allow us to prioritise these urgent issues and focus on implementing our vessel recovery plan to restore our full service, while reducing some of the pressure staff and customers are currently facing.”