The creator of an online petition to the Steam Packet Company says he started it to show there is considerable public disquiet over the new winter schedule, among other things.

Manxforums.com moderator Frank Scheungel says he'd been surprised to read in a news story the Office of Fair Trading's comments about not receiving any complaints over the stopping of Liverpool day trips.

This belief has been echoed by the company itself, which says the changes are for the benefit of, and have been welcomed by, the majority of passengers.

But the petition has been growing rapidly since it was started four days ago and now (Weds) has well over 1200 signatures.

And Mr Scheungel says comments with the signatures cover a number of issues: