A NEW ferry company will be offering a shuttle service between Southampton and the Isle of Wight next month.

Scoot Ferries Ltd has announced the launch of two foot passenger services starting in August.

The service will offer two new route options, with one providing a five-minute crossing shuttle connecting West and East Cowes and will connect with the times of the Red Jet to offer easy transfer times.

The first ferry will leave from East Cowes at 6am and run every 15 minutes until the last service leaving from West Cowes.

The service will start as a 12 passenger ferry, with a larger ferry coming into commission from in October this year that will have space for 50 passengers and up to six bikes.

Adult tickets will cost £1 each way, with concessions for season ticket holders, children, students and OAPs.

The second new route option will see the launch of a high speed foot passenger service linking Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight with Lymington Town Quay in the New Forest.

The service will operate initially with capacity for 12 passengers and up to five bicycles and run a regular 25 minute crossing to a scheduled timetable.

Services will connect with South West trains between London and Lymington Town, with the first departure from Yarmouth at 6.30am and the last departure from Lymington at midnight.

Zoë Ombler, CEO of Scoot Ferries, said: “We are really excited to announce the launch of Scoot Ferries, with our first services starting this August.

“We have designed this service specifically with Isle of Wight residents in mind and our primary goal is to enhance the ease of islanders getting on and off the island alongside existing foot passenger services, which is why we will offer late-night sailings, fast sailing times and enhanced transport links both with the existing Red Jet service and with trains to and from Lymington.

“In addition, we are delighted to announce that during 2016 we will also be launching a much requested service between Cowes and Hamble and between Cowes and Portsmouth, subject to the vessel availability.”

Zoë added that she is already helping with plans to launch the Cowes to Portsmouth and Cowes to Hamble services.

These additional ferries will be two new 30 passenger vessels which will be purpose built by South Boats IOW Limited and come into service from April next year.

These new ferries will cost £9 for standard one-way tickets, with concessions for season ticket holders, students, children and OAPs.

The business is owned by Charlie Kearnes from The Hut bar and restaurant in Colwell Bay on the island.

He said: “We are extremely excited about Scoot and its late sailing times, as it opens up the potential for people to visit us from the mainland and still get back home without difficulty.”

Zoë said: “We are aiming to provide a much needed late night travel service, enabling local businesses to benefit from increased trade by giving customers wider scope and flexibility to visit the many excellent places on both sides of the water.”