Roads campaigner Archie Burleigh has appealed to drivers to be more aware of otters on coastal roads, and other streets in the countryside areas of Largs.

Archie noticed the carcass of an otter on the A78 at Skelmorlie Castle shore field on Tuesday morning.

He said: "Over the past two years this is the seventh otter I have seen on the roads in the surrounding area. On each occasion I have called the wildlife officer at Muirshiel to record the event. For your added information the dead otters were recorded on the A78 at Auchengarth Farm road field, Danefield estate entrance in Largs and at two Meigle all on the A78. A further two were recorded on the A760 (Kilbirnie Road) beside the fishery and just to the North of Mutton Hall cottage.
"I would therefore take this opportunity to request your readers to be aware of the local wildlife when hurrying to and fro in their cars on the local roads. "Otters in particular are the opposite of their sleek agile appearance when in the sea or a river. On the roads they shuffle about in an ungainly fashion trying to find a gap in a fence or a wall to get on with their journey. In the dark they are very black and shiny with a low slinking gait and a long tapering tail.
"To this end if you are driving on a wet night with lots of puddles on the road it would be good if your readers were to change their driving habits and reduce their speed and try to be a bit more observant. If you see an otter the best advice is to slow down and go on to dipped beam and try to let the creature find a safe haven."
 a few signs could be provided by the new NAC wildlife officer and fitted at strategic points on the local roads. Especially on the A78 Largs to Skelmorlie and the A760 Largs to Kilbirnie.