Four people have been rescued by the Largs lifeboat from a disused pier on the Firth of Clyde.

The RNLI crew rushed to the scene at the former Inverkip power station after being called out by HM Coastguard.

On arrival they discovered that an inflatable boat, which was carrying four passengers, had been travelling around the disused pier when it suffered a puncture.

The four passengers sought refuge on the pier, which was locked, preventing them from getting onto the land.

The locked pier also meant shore-based coastguard personnel were unable to help the group.

The four people were helped into the lifeboat and taken to nearby Kip Marina, where they were handed over to the local coastguard rescue team.

Largs lifeboat volunteer helm Andrew Malone said: "We would like to remind people to respect the water; always carry a means for calling for help, wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid and remember to check both the weather and tide times before setting off.

"You should also ensure your watercraft is appropriate for the activity and is well maintained.

‘If you get into difficulty at sea or along the coast, or spot someone else in trouble, always dial 999 and ask for the coastguard."