One of the main drivers behind the new Largs resilience team has outlined how it could help people affected by severe weather similar to recent storms.

Largs community councillor Drew Cochrane asked the council’s secretary, George Douglas, to give an example of the type of help they could provide in the event of travellers getting stranded on the Haylie Brae in extreme weather.

George, who led the push for the creation of a local resilience team, said: “There are three ways we can be called upon - either a request from the police, from North Ayrshire Council, or by ‘self-activating’.” He said the resilience team would be in a position to help travellers down to Largs, opening a hall such as the Clark Memorial church hall as a temporary refuge, provide hot drinks and food and ensure people are cared for until they are able to carry on their journey.

“This is the very type of situation we have come together for,” he added.

Fellow community councillor Euan McLean also put a point forward about the importance of having an awareness of the most vulnerable people in the area - including those who require regular hospital treatment or support in their home.

He acknowledged issues with data protection but suggested the resilience team may wish to look at such a database.

SSE made use of its own database of vulnerable people during the winter storm which cut off access to many parts of Arran in March 2013, while North Ayrshire Council maintains details of social service users.