HELENSBURGH Coastguard Rescue Team was called into action this week after reports of a group of youths getting into difficulty swimming in the Gare Loch.

Responders attended the scene at around 9pm on Thursday night, June 13 following an incident involving a person in the water behind Old School Road, Garelochhead.

READ MORE: Helensburgh lifeboat called out to rescue off Gourock

Upon arrival, together with Kilcreggan Coastguard Rescue Team, MoD Police and ambulance personnel, crews discovered two youngsters had entered the water to try and help their friend who had gone for a swim and got into difficulty.

After water safety advice was given and a check over by medical staff the youths were returned to the care of their parents.

The Helensburgh and Kilcreggan crews also responded to a report of a person falling overboard from a vessel off Kilcreggan pier the day before.

READ MORE: Helensburgh lifeboat crew help rescue Dunoon pier 'person in distress'

A full scale and extensive search of the area was carried out with assistance from RNLI Helensburgh, MoD police, two small ribs from Royal Navy vessel HMS Forth and a passing pleasure craft, however, nobody was recovered.

The two separate cases were the 42nd and 43rd incidents of 2019 so far for the Helensburgh Coastguard Rescue Team.