Coastguard called to north-east beach party after flares let off

Revellers at a north-east beach party sparked an emergency response from the coastguard after setting off flares.

Coastguard teams were launched following concerns that a boat was in difficulty after red beacons were spotted in the sky.

Teams from Aberdeen and Cruden Bay were sent to Balmedie Beach at around 10pm, along with a lifeboat crew from Aberdeen.

On arrival, crews discovered the flares had been sent out by the party-goers and there was no emergency.

A coastguard spokesman said: “We got reports of red flares being discharged in Balmedie.

“Similar ones are used to alert us to a distressed signal.

“As a result we have to respond when something like this happens.

“But we later discovered it was actually a beach party.”