A GRANDMOTHER believed to be from the Helensburgh area has died after going swimming in a loch in Argyll.

The 64-year-old woman did not return from a swim in Loch Caolisport, near Ormsary in Knapdale, on the evening of Thursday, July 5.

The alarm was raised by the woman's grandson.

A search operation involving a helicopter from Prestwick, coastguard rescue teams from Crinan and Tarbert, the RNLI's Islay lifeboat and Police Scotland, resulted in the woman, who has not yet been named, being located at around 9pm.

She was taken by helicopter to hospital in Oban but was pronounced dead shortly after being admitted.

Police say there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.

The accident came in a week which also saw two deaths by drowning in Loch Lomond – one near Balloch, the other north of Luss – and which resulted in warnings from police, the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat crew and the National Park about the dangers of swimming in open water.