The ferries are having overhauls before the summer season

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's net bookings to and from Lancashire, Liverpool and Ireland have risen beyond expectations, the firm says.

Its fleet have started their annual overhauls at the dry dock in Birkenhead in preparation for the summer season.

The Steam Packet is the oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company.

Rupert Trevelyan, Steam Packet director of marketing, said it had invested heavily in its online booking system.

He said the figures were a "tremendous result".