RNLILifeboat crews have issued a warning after being called to two incidents of distress flares being set off as a hoax on the same day.
Largs RNLI volunteers were dispatched to reports of a red distress flare off the coast in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The team were dispatched again later that evening to a report of an orange flare.
Volunteers from Largs lifeboat and local Coastguard Rescue Teams searched the area for anyone in danger during both incidents, with no one traced.
A warning has now been issued over the consequences of setting off distress flares, intended to be used by people in trouble at sea, as a hoax.
John Griffiths, lifeboat operations manager at Largs RNLI, said: “A distress flare could be the only thing standing between someone in danger and a successful rescue.
“Using one inappropriately could instead send volunteer crews into danger unnecessarily and potentially leave someone else waiting for help.
“However, if you see a distress flare or see someone in trouble at sea or along the coast, you should call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
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