Irish citizens who were fearing they would miss catching a ferry to Ireland to vote in the Eighth Amendment referendum have made their sailing.

People took to social media to plead with Stena Line to hold the 1.10pm Fishguard to Rosslare ferry because of problems with rail services in England and Wales.

Stena Line promised to hold the service for as long as it could in order for passengers to catch the sailing back to Ireland to vote in Friday’s referendum.

Great Western Railway organised a coach transfer to get the Irish citizens to the terminal in time from Swansea.

“There were delays in rail connections and coaches were laid on as a substitute. The coaches arrived on time and everybody is there now,” a spokesman for Stena Line said.

“The sailing was 1.10pm and we expected the ferry to leave five or 10 minutes behind schedule, which we expect to be made up during the journey.

“I think there was more concern about missing the sailing and not being able to get across.

“The coaches did their job and got everybody there on time and they are being loaded and then will be away.”