Despite the heavy rain and high winds on Friday there was a wonderful turnout in support of the campaign to help Save Millport Pier, organisers say.

It was estimated that between 500 and 600 residents and visitors attended, either on the beach or along the prom and sea wall.

A total of 35 boats, of all shapes and sizes, took to the water. Some boats were local craft and some had travelled over to the island to demonstrate the importance of Millport retaining a working pier.

Campaign co-ordinator Mari Wallace said: "At 12.30pm the noise from boats and people on the shoreline was deafening, so much so that if the councillors in Irvine had bothered to listen I am sure they could have heard it!

"A special thanks to Sonoro Community Choir for leading the singing of our theme song ' Save Millport Pier O,' to Millport and Kilbarchan pipe bands and to the Coastguard boat who came along to give their support."

The final result of the petition will be announced next week and arrangements will be made over the next few weeks to present it to North Ayrshire Council.

In a letter to the Largs and Millport News last week, Mari highlighted the importance of the campaign.

She said: "Following this ongoing neglect of the pier and NAC's refusal to maintain it our council then closed it to all boats and to public access in January of this year and published a Notice to that effect.

"Over 8000 people have now made their views known about this situation.

"To make matters worse the existing pier is recognised by NAC as an essential flood defence and until offshore breakwaters are put in place it is the only flood defence that Millport has. With the likelihood that it will be several years until any offshore breakwaters are in place the situation is that, without urgent maintenance, the pier is at risk of catastrophic failure which would obviously have severe consequences for the residents of Millport.

"Further, the lack of a working pier will continue to have a detrimental impact on the future of Millport’s economy as marine tourism is an area being developed across Clyde and West Coast. Why should Millport lose out?