The Victor Hugo passenger ferry rests in Braye Harbour, Alderney, after hitting the rocks shortly after setting off for Guernsey last night. Picture by James Varley

A FRENCH ferry with 59 passengers on board had to be towed to safety after losing control in Alderney’s harbour and being swept into rocks.

The Victor Hugo, a passenger ship that sails to Jersey, hit the rocks as it left for Guernsey and was left drifting in high winds on Sunday night. It took three vessels more than an hour to manoeuvre the vessel to safety.

The Manche Iles ferry was on the final leg of a Guernsey to Lessay Fair daytrip and was leaving the harbour shortly before 8 pm, 20 minutes after dropping off 84 Alderney passengers.

Engine and steering problems, as well as tricky sailing conditions, were thought to have contributed to the incident. All those stranded in Alderney were put up in hotels overnight and flown back to Guernsey on Monday.

Guernsey harbourmaster Captain Peter Gill said that an inquiry into the incident would take place but that it was too early to say whether it would be done locally or by UK maritime investigators.