Search called off after distress flares spotted off Aberdeenshire coast

Coastguard teams have called off their search of the Aberdeenshire coast after members of the public spotted distress flares at sea.

Three separate reports were received by Aberdeen Coastguard between 9pm and 11pm of red flares to the north of Stonehaven harbour.

However, the Stonehaven lifeboat and Stonehaven coastguard team called off their search around 12.30am after the crews could find no sign of distress.

A spokesman said: “We believe they might have been fired on land.”