The King Harry Chain Ferry near Feock is embracing technology by offering a new texting service to its regular customers.

The idea is for the company to let its customers know when the weather is too bad for the chains to take the strain.

By providing the company with their mobile telephone number, each customer will be sent a free text telling them when it is necessary to find an alternative route.

The ferry, which is part of the B3289, carries cars across the river Fal and saves 33 miles on a round trip between Falmouth and St Mawes.

As well as being used by visitors, the ferry is relied upon by hundreds of local people who use the ferry to commute to work and school.

Tim Light, managing director, said: "We are really only affected by strong southerly winds. It can blow old boots in just about any other direction but gale force-plus southerly winds blow straight up the river and can make landing tricky.

"Although we have only had to stop running twice this year and have managed to let a lot of regular ferry users know via the radio, we think that by adding this free service, we can help our regular customers arrange alternative routes as soon as possible.

"We have just installed a specialised website which is capable of sending up to 300 text messages in one go, so our customers will know as soon as we make the decision to stop running the ferry," Mr Light said.

Anyone wishing more information on the service, or looking to register their mobile telephone number, should call Toby Budd on 01872 861910.