The crew of a vessel from Largs Marina unwittingly set up a rescue operation after accidentally transmitting a distress signal.

Largs Coastguard are now urging sailors to double check their radios to make sure they are only releasing these signals when necessary.

This is the first callout that Largs Coastguard Rescue Team have worked with their Coastguard helicopter colleagues.

At around 4pm on Saturday 23 January, Largs Coastguard were alerted that an incident appeared to coming from inside the marina.

The vessel was constantly transmitting signals on VHF Channel 16, which added urgency to find the vessel.

The team joined the helicopter search which was attempting to find the source of the broadcast using VHF direction finding equipment.

Coastguard helicopter 999 had narrowed the signal to a vessel within the marina, but due to low fuel had to temriante the search and return to base.

Using this information, the Coastguard team then commenced a search fo the vessels within the marina but during the search the signal stopped.

Marina staff have placed noticed on the entrances to the pontoons to advise boat owners to check their VHF radios.