On several Scottish western islands, shops have been forced to ration essential items due to widespread ferry cancellations due to a broken-down vessel, reports The National.

Residents have complained of food shortages imposed by local shops with islanders restricted to just one carton of milk and one loaf of bread, The Herald reports.

It is understood that the Scottish Government is considering setting up a compensation fund for islands using cash from fines it has imposed on CalMac for underperformance.

It was also revealed that the ferry operator had been secretly hit with £3.5 million in performance fines by the Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland in one year.

The reports come amid concerns about the reliability of Scotland’s ageing ferry fleet as Afloat previously covered.

Scottish Government-controlled ferry operator CalMac has been forced to provide an emergency ferry from one of Scotland’s busiest routes to serve the struggling islands in the Outer Hebrides.

CalMac has insisted that all goods were being shipped and said it was unfair to suggest that any shortages directly resulted from the ferry issues.

For more, click here on CalMac, the UK's biggest domestic ferry operator.