Holidaymakers hoping to see Falmouth had their plans scuppered when a Viking cruise ship's visit was cancelled yesterday (Thursday April 18).

The 930-passenger capacity Viking Sea was due to dock in County Wharf at around 8am, when 40-knot wind speeds were predicted.

Nearly 30 tour coaches were booked to take visitors to attractions in Cornwall. They all had to be cancelled as the ship headed to Cherbourg in France instead.

Last month, passengers on another Viking ship had to be evacuated after an engine failure in stormy seas off the Norwegian coast.

Phil Boddy, from the Falmouth Cruise Ship Ambassadors, said: "It's a great shame because we were looking forward to it."

He said that he thought the cruise ship operators "have become quite cautious" after the incident last month.

Phil went on to say that the cruise ambassadors "haven't had much luck" with ships in recent weeks, as building delays to the 200-capacity Hanseatic Nature that was scheduled to visit on March 30 meant it never left the shipyard.

Falmouth Cruise Ship Ambassadors is an association of mostly retired residents who welcome visitors from cruise ships and share their local knowledge with the passengers when they disembark.