CONFUSED police officers have been given strange reports from the Craigie area... of coughing.

At a meeting in Ayr Town Hall members of Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown community council heard there have been repeated ‘incidents’ of youths ‘loitering’ on Content Street.

Frank Ward explained: “There are young boys between age 16-20 hanging around Craigie Park. I see them around 9am when I am taking my granddaughter to school.

“They are always coughing, I don’t know if they are clearing their throats and just need some throat sweets.

“You sometimes see them near the college and UWS on Content Street in Ayr. I have also seen groups with alcohol outside RS McColls first thing in the morning."

PC Daniel Smith assured members of the community council that he would feed the information back to the inspector. 

Shop staff can contact police via their radio link if people are hanging around, causing any disorder.

A spokesman from Ayr Police Office said there had been no incidents of that sort reported to them and if anyone has any concerns about someone acting suspiciously they should contact them via the non emergency number on 101.

Ayr is served by a number of community policing teams. These teams are built around the needs of local people. They are responsible for responding to calls in the local area, as well as looking for long term solutions to key issues.