ABANDON: Passengers evacuate the sinking ship during the Manchester Canal Cruise

Firefighters carried out the huge evacuation after the ship began filling up with water.

Ambulance, two fire engines and coastguard crews rushed to The Royal Iris ferry – carrying 69 passengers and five crew members – when it ran aground at around 1.30pm.

It was in the middle of a day cruise from Seacombe, Wirral, along the Manchester Ship canal to Salford Quays.

There are no reported injuries.

All passengers were helped on to a dredger – which was also used to pump water out of the ferry as it began to capsize.

Passenger Jonathan Whittaker posted the dramatic turn of events on Twitter, describing the evacuation to "walking the plank".

Merseytravel – who runs the ferries – said: "We can confirm that the Royal Iris ferry Manchester Ship Canal cruise was abandoned today following reports of the ferry taking on water.

"The relevant emergency services were called immediately. At no time were passengers in danger and they were safely transferred to a dredger, the Delgoria.

"The Royal Iris is being escorted into the Eastham lock system and we will investigate the cause of this incident. We apologise to our passengers and would like to thank them for their cooperation this afternoon."

Passenger Mike Shinks from Bolton described the horrible sound as a hole ripped through the ship.

"When the Royal Iris passed the dredger, there was a scraping noise and we were forced to weigh anchor," he told the BBC.

"There was a lot of crew movement as they worked the anchor.

"A pilot boat pulled up alongside us. Then the ferry pulled up alongside the dredger and hooked itself on to it."