POLICE have launched an investigation after droves of brazen cockle pickers raided a protected beach.

Scores of what are feared to be illegal immigrants were confronted by officers and angry locals after targeting the stretch on the south side of Fairlie which has been ringfenced as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

Angry scenes ensued as environmental campaigners approached the crowds over damage being caused to the feeding habitats of local marine wildlife.

Locals have told the News that clusters of collectors are turning up at low tide and filling 'as many bags as they can carry' before making off in cars and vans.

A concerned resident, who asked not to be named, said: "There were at least 20 people on the beach gathering cockles the other day. We saw police move them on a couple of weeks ago but they have gradually been coming back - and in greater numbers.

"Another large group was moved on earlier this week by what looked like a special police branch. Something needs done about them, they are threatening the wildlife."

Fairlie marine biologist David Nairn was one of the group who confronted the cockle pickers over the damage being done.

He has now contacted North Ayrshire Council over the situation and is calling upon them to introduce a bye-law that makes it an offence to collect material from a SSSI.

He said: "On Tuesday afternoon, I received a phone call that there were around 25-30 of them at the south side of the bay.

"They had full rakes, buckets and spades. I went along and chased them away.

"It is against the Nature Conservation Act but I think the rules need to be tightened - there needs to be a council bye-law warning against this.

"You are not allowed to destroy the features of the SSSI which includes mudflats and sea grass. This is an important feeding territory for marine life including the herons, egrets and curlews which have been sighted there.

"When you start digging into it, you are destroying it. They are just leaving the place in a mess and not even filling in the holes they were digging.

"It looks to me to be a commercial enterprise as it seems to be drilled and very organised.

"The people were Asian and were looking for shellfish, anything that was edible."

David says that the cockles found on the beach are not fresh to eat and need to be sterilised before being consumed.

He added: "Cockles are around £10 a kilo so there is a value to them and people were marching off with bags of up to five kilos each.

"I went down the shore and approached them to make them aware that what they were doing was illegal. A lot of them didn't have passports so it is maybe an issue for immigration too.

"When I told them the area was protected by law, they pleaded ignorance, but were quick to leave the scene.

"The problem is that they are now returning regularly and something needs done. The problem is the scale of it. They are destroying the very thing that we are all trying to protect."

Inspector Alison Wilson, of Largs Police Office, said: “We can confirm that officers have received reports regarding groups gathering cockles from the sandflats area of Fairlie over the past two weeks. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

“We are engaging with the local community and partner organisations to ensure the environment remains protected. Anyone with concerns should report them to Police Scotland on 101.”