Up to 18 Steam Packet sailings to and from the Isle of Man have either been cancelled or are at risk of cancellation this weekend due to the weather forecast.

Winds on Friday (October 23) are expected to reach gale force, with a risk of severe gales for a period which is expected to cause further disruption on both Saturday and Sunday.

The 6.45am Manannan sailing from Douglas to Larne on Friday has already been cancelled, which means the return sailing at 10.45am will also not take place.

The 8am and 1.45pm Ben-My-Chree sailings to and from Heysham on Friday are at risk, with a decision on these sailings set to be made by 6am on Friday.

Manannan trips to and from Liverpool are also in doubt.

Every sailing originally scheduled on Saturday (October 24) is also at risk of disruption or cancellation, with this risk continuing into Sunday (October 25).

The last sailing currently at risk is the 7.15pm Manannan sailing from Liverpool to the Isle of Man, with the first sailing not to be at risk being the Ben-My-Chree journey from Douglas to Heysham at 7.30pm on the same day.

According to the Ronaldsway Met Office, Friday currently presents the clearest risk of significant weather-related travel disruption.

The low-pressure system expected to bring Friday’s strong winds has not yet been named by the UK Met Office, although it is under review and could be named in the coming days.