The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group welcomed their five millionth passenger on board over the weekend.

Somerset's Nick Mair had the honour of being the landmark passenger, travelling on the iconic Scillonian III from Penzance to St Mary’s with his wife, Jacqueline, on May 25.

To celebrate the milestone, Mr Mair was given a pair of complimentary Scillonian III tickets and a bouquet provided by Scilly Flowers on St Martin’s.

The special items were presented by the ship's master, Victoria Bolitho.

The Steamship Group has been offering regular ferry services since 1926, and Mr Mair is the most recent passenger to be added to the millions that have travelled on its ferries since then.

Over the years, the group has operated three Scillonian passenger ferries.

The Scillonian III, came into service on May 17, 1977.

A new vessel is set to come into service in 2026.

Mr Mair said: "This was such a surprise.

"It is our first trip to the Isles of Scilly and to be passenger number 5 million was such a delight.

"Everyone has been so lovely and we really feel as though we have had VIP treatment.

"We’ve always wanted to visit the islands and can’t wait to do some walking and exploring and seeing somewhere we’ve always heard such great things about for ourselves."

Stuart Reid, chief executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, expressed his joy for the landmark event.

Mr Reid said: "The five millionth passenger was welcomed on board this afternoon, which was a significant milestone for the Group and one which we are all immensely proud of.

"Our mission to provide regular, reliable ferry services to the islands remains as relevant now as it was when the company was founded more than 100 years ago.

"Scillonian has been a vital lifeline for islanders and a popular and affordable way of visiting Scilly for the many thousands of holidaymakers and day trippers who return to the islands year after year."

Over the last forty years, the Scillonian III has completed over 10,000 return trips between the Isles of Scilly and the Cornish mainland.

During this time, the ship has covered more than 688,500 nautical miles, transporting five million passengers including visiting Royals, past Prime Ministers and numerous celebrity visitors.

The Scillonian III sails from Penzance to St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly each day from March until November, with ticket prices for local residents starting at £25.