CONTINUED "technical problems" at Holyhead Port in Wales on Monday morning threatens to affect travel plans for racegoers and horseboxes heading to Cheltenham from Ireland via ferry.

On Sunday ferry passengers experienced major disruption following a technical issue with the Stena Adventurer ferry, currently berthed at the port, which meant other services were not able to run. This had left services stranded off Holyhead unable to dock.

It was reported that hundreds of Wales rugby fans had been caught up in the disruption as they returned from Dublin following Friday's Six Nations clash against Ireland.

A number of Stena Line and Irish Ferries services were cancelled, re-directed or delayed due to the incident.

Latest updates from both ferry companies show that services continue to be affected.

The Stena Estrid had been due to depart at 4am on Monday morning but the sailing was cancelled. The 10am sailing of the Stena Adventurer has also been cancelled.

Stena Line currently say the expected first sailing from Holyhead will be the Stena Estrid at 4pm on Monday afternoon.

The company said on Sunday its ferry Stena Adventurer had "developed a technical issue which needs to be resolved before the ship can leave Holyhead Port".

It said a team were "working hard to resolve this issue as soon as possible".

The company said that its 10.15am sailing from Dublin-Holyhead has been re-directed to Birkenhead.

"Our team is contacting affected customers directly with updates, changes and alternative travel options," the company added.

Meanwhile it's believed that some trainers and transport companies due to travel on the Dublin-Holyhead route are making alternative plans to travel to Pembroke port, via Rosslare.

A spokesperson for a prominent horsebox transport company told The Irish Field: "The problem has caused a backlog but there are other routes available and we are confident that we will deliver all of our clients' horses to Cheltenham in time."