THE FLOATING bridge fiasco continued on Saturday as the bridge ran aground and was out of action for five hours — just two days after the council branded it a 'reliable and frequent service'.

Customers were told by bridge staff that it had suffered a mechanical fault, and despite their best efforts, the tide left it high and dry.

The Jenny Lee replacement boat was launched 50 minutes later, causing long queues of cyclists, walkers and tourists on both sides of the river.

East Cowes Cllr, Karl Love, said: "On a fantastic day like Saturday we needed the bridge to be running efficiently to support our local economy.

"The people of East Cowes have received nothing but empty words from the councillors who our making our town and Island a laughing stock and damaging our reputation."