THERE was violence on the streets of Largs as a number of arrests took place after trouble involved youths from outwith the local area.

Police said they were stepping up patrols in response to the angry scenes which took place near the railway station and along Largs seafront.

The British Transport Police told the News they would be working in tandem with local officers in a bid to quell the troubles and searching more trains coming into the town.

Three arrests involving people with offensive weapons were made, while a 15-year-old was found drunk and incapable in Largs town centre.

While the arrival of the new Largs Campus has been making headlines this year, schools were also top of the news agenda back in 2004 as a SNP councillor called for an extension to Largs Academy.

Councillor Alan Hill said the local secondary school had to be expanded to 'alleviate problems of overcrowding'.

But the request, backed by councillor Elisabethe Marshall, was heavily defeated amid accusations from Labour that the SNP were playing politics with children's education.

The call came as North Ayrshire Council’s education committee discussed increasing the number of reserved places at the school to cope with more families moving into the area.

The village of Skelmorlie was in mourning following the tragic death of a local pilot and international dinghy sailor.

lPeter McNeil died when the six-seater Cessna 310 he was travelling in plunged to the ground and exploded into flames near the Humber Estuary.

Peter was a company pilot for Graham Technology Limited and a former senior instructor at the Scottish National Watersports Centre in Cumbrae.

A memorial service was held in Skelmorlie Parish Church.

Largs Community Council took to our pages to complain about new road humps being installed around local schools.

Bus operator Dario Sassarini warned passengers that he may be forced to re-route the local Largs service to avoid wear and tear to his vehicles - and potential damage.

North Ayrshire Council had spent £700,000 in introducing road traffic calming measures across the district.

Meanwhile Millport campaigners were celebrating secured concessions for small business water users.

The island business community had embarked on a partial-non payment campaign in protest at the huge water rates increases imposed by Scottish Water - some by as much as 900 per cent.

Following a meeting on the island between business people and Scottish Water representatives, the company said the would extend repayment time to ease the burden on local businesses.

Our Big Picture showed swimmers taking part in Butlin’s Swimathon 2004 for leading cancer care charity Macmillan Cancer Relief and West Kilbride Primary School pupils as they lifted the Cunninghame Cup after emerging victorious in the school athletics competition.