Passengers who boarded ferry infected with illness claim negligence

Two passengers who were onboard a ship that had undergone an outbreak of norovirus have claimed the firm responsible for the service was negligent.

Robert and Rosamund Ridley were on their way back from a holiday in the Northern Isles - which are a chain of islands off the north coast of Scotland - when they were transported by the vessel, the Aberdeen Press and Journal reports.

They allege that there were only told that 14 passengers and three members of staff had been taken ill with the condition ten minutes before the ship was due to dock in Aberdeen.

The pair also say they would not have travelled using the NorthLink boat if they had known before they set off.

Ms Ridley remarked: "The Hjaltland should have been taken out of service on Saturday. Failing to alert Sunday's passengers to the presence of sickness was sheer negligence on the part of NorthLink Ferries."

As a result of their journey, the couple had to postpone their silver wedding party for fear that guests would be infected.