The owners of an abandoned 4x4 are being sought after the car was found submerged in the Solway Firth

At around 8.50am on Tuesday a member of the public called police after the Vauxhall Frontera was spotted in the water in Dumfries and Galloway.

Police are hoping to trace the owners of the mystery 4x4, which was found at Cardoness Bay, near Sandgreen at Gatehouse-of-Fleet, in the Irish Sea.

Liverpool Coatguard had been called out to assist after the car was found, but now Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary and the fire and rescue service are dealing with the vehicle.

An attempt to remove it from the bay was unsuccessful on Tuesday afternoon as the 4x4 had sunk into the sand.

But emergency services are scheduled to try and remove the car again at low tide at around 3.30pm on Wednesday.

A police spokesman confirmed that they do not believe anyone is in the car, while they are hopeful of tracing the current owners.

The area is known for cockle fishing and the police are investigating whether or not the car had become submerged and was then abandoned by a poacher.