False alarm with good intent

THE AITH lifeboat and the Coastguard helicopter were both launched into action on Saturday afternoon after a member of the public reported large amounts of smoke billowing from a salmon feeding barge, in Hamar Voe, near Urafirth.

When the search and rescue 102 helicopter arrived at the scene at 4.30pm it turned out that two men on the barge were working with a faulty generator that created a lot of white smoke.

A coastguard spokesman said they had feared there might be a fire on board the barge and workmen trapped.

The helicopter was stood down and the lifeboat returned to base before it had reached the scene.