THE Ardrossan Coastguard have warned locals after they received a malicious Mayday call last night (Tuesday).

The team was called out shortly after 10pm following a Mayday call being received on VHF Channel 16.

The team responded with colleagues from the Troon lifeboat also being tasked to the incident. With limited information received via the initial Mayday call, a search area was established between Barrassie and Ardrossan.

Troon lifeboat conducted a search between Troon and Ardrossan with the team using their 4x4 capability to conduct a search of the beach between Irvine and Barrassie. Team members also deployed on foot for a detailed search of Irvine Harbour using spotlights and making numerious radio calls on VHF Channel 16 with no reply.

The team thereafter conducted a coastal search further north from Irvine to Ardrossan with nothing of note being found. The search was conducted in challenging weather conditions with poor visibility at times due to drizzle and fog.

On completion of the search, all resources were stood down and returned to station with Belfast Coastguard Operations Centre treating the this as a hoax radio call with malicious intent.

A spokesperson for the Coastguard said: "The Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team want to remind the public that malicious 999 and radio calls to the emergency services is illegal and could lead to prosecution.

"It also risks the lives of the emergency services involved and puts the public at risk as well as rescue resources are actively engaged if a genuine emergency situation arises."