Scottish waters see a rise in summer lifeboat call-outs

The RNLI has praised its volunteers as being courageous and committed

More lifeboats were launched in Scottish waters over the summer months, new figures show.

There were 417 call-outs from 46 RNLI stations around Scotland between 1 June and 31 August, up 4% on the same period last year.

The charity said it was a busy summer for its crews, with sunny weather on the west coast meaning a rise in activity.

Troon was the busiest station with 25 call-outs, three more than last summer.

The busiest inshore station was Queensferry where volunteers launched 21 times over the three months.

There were significant increases in call-outs from RNLI stations in Largs, Mallaig, Tobermory and Campbeltown which are all on the west coast.

Launches from Tobermory on Mull jumped from just two last summer to 15 this year.

In Kintyre, Campbeltown's total doubled from seven to 14, call-outs from RNLI Mallaig in Lochaber increased by six, from 11 to 17 and call-outs at RNLI Largs in Ayrshire rose from 13 to 18.

The charity's newest lifeboat station, at Leverburgh on Harris, had seven call-outs.

Stations in the far north of Scotland, at Wick, Thurso, Orkney and Shetland, were all quieter than last year.

Paul Jennings, RNLI divisional inspector for Scotland, said: "Once again our volunteer lifeboat crews in Scotland have shown that they are committed and courageous individuals, on stand-by to save lives at sea come rain or shine.

"Behind the crews are a huge team of volunteers, the station management volunteers, shore helpers and fundraisers, to whom we owe our thanks for ensuring that the RNLI can keep on saving lives at sea."