This is a picture of the ever popular boating pond at Aubery in Largs the 60s, and plans were afoot to enhance the area with a sandy beach.

A plan to try and bring more sand to Largs's shingle beach was underway in 1965.

Part of the shore at Aubery Crescent had been made into a catchment area by making two walls of railway sleepers from the promenade down to the low water mark.

The 'News' reported: "It is hoped that sand will be washed into the area and be retained. First of all, all the larger stones were removed from the enclosed part of the beach. The scheme is to be financed by the Largs Advertising and Development Association."

The idea was put forward by the owner of Vanduara, the association's publicity officer. Similar projects had been executed safely elsewhere, but its success depended on the weather conditions being favourable.

It wasn't the first time in the 1960s that efforts had been made to bring sand to the stone beach area at Largs. In 1964, an offer of help came from a USA engineer Sidney Makepeace Wood who had carried out similar projects in Jamaica, Florida, the Great Lakes of Canada and elsewhere.

He was impressed with the possibilities of recovering sand from the sea bed opposite Aubery Crescent and keeping it on the beach.

Mr Derby said: "Mr Wood not only wrote to me giving details of this scheme but also sent a plan suitable for Aubery beach. Unfortunately this would involve building a steel jetty at a cost of £3000, similar to jetties built at Florida and the Great Lakes. We decided on a modified scheme using the railway sleepers which was a cheaper option."

The other attraction at Aubery was of course the boating pond which opened in 1963 and was very popular with children and families.