An iconic Mersey Ferry has made its final journey before retirement.
The Royal Iris of the Mersey first crossed the waterway in 1959 and was a staple of the service that became recognised as the official ‘Ferry Cross the Mersey’.
It featured in the 1965 film of the same name starring Gerry and the Pacemakers, who had recorded the iconic UK top ten hit song just a year earlier.
But earlier this year transport bosses was confirmed that the vessel would be decomissioned from Sunday (March 29) and replaced by the Royal Daffodil.
Originally named Mountwood, the ferry was rechristened Royal Iris after a 2001 refit in homage to its predecessor, which was taken out of service a decade earlier.
The river cruiser is estimated to have carried more than 17 million people between Liverpool and Wirral during its six-decade long spell in operation.
Liam Phelan of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “Locally, she’s as iconic probably as the Graces and the Mersey Tunnels.
“She’s part of the history of the Mersey and obviously today’s a bit of a sad day for us.”