A major North Sea search and rescue operation has been stood down after it was confirmed a distress call was a false alarm.
The search around midday when the Coastguard picked up a signal from an emergency beacon around nine miles from Fraserburgh.
The operation involved a RNLI lifeboat from the north-east port as well as a Coastguard helicopter from Inverness.
A number of other vessels in the area also diverted to the search zone to provide assistance.
These include Peterhead fishing vessel Moremma, Dumfries-registered trawler Vertrouwen and offshore supply ship Grampian Sceptre.
A spokeswoman for Aberdeen Coastguard confirmed: “A lifeboat has been sent out from Fraserburgh after an emergency beacon was signalled but it is unclear at this stage why it was signalled.”
Coastguards said there had been no other distress calls from the area and no information about the vessel involved.
