A BOATING company serving the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth has announced it will cease trading for the foreseeable future as a result of COVID-19.

Solent & Wightline Cruises is a family run passenger vessel enterprise which has been operating for more than 30 years in the tourism industry.

Offering boat trips, private charters and harbour tours around the Portsmouth and Isle of Wight area, the business was founded in the late 1980s, forging a glowing reputation for its service to the community.

A statement on the company's Facebook page said: "It is with a heavy heart we have made the decision to stop running our boat trips for the foreseeable future.

"Being a family run company this was a hard decision, but we feel it is for the best for now.

"The health and safety of our passengers and staff is our main priority, and we need to act sensibly and do our bit for the world as it is currently.

"This is only temporary and we will be back. For now we urge everyone to stay safe, we will see you all on the flip side of this."

The Solent and Wightline Cruises office will remain remotely manned throughout the closure, and are available to contact by emailing solentcruises@clara.co.uk or phoning 564602.