THREE separate incidents relating to people in difficulty on inflatable toys took place across the Ayrshire Coast.

And the Coastguard Rescue teams are now urging the public to avoid using them whilst at the coast for their own safety and the safety of their children after a number of people were blown out to sea.

Troon Lifeboat were called after reports of inflatable toys being blown off the coast of Troon.

Two people in an inflatable toy boat also had to be rescued after being blown out to see from Ayr Beach, where they had been assisted by passing canoeists who had remained with them until the lifeboat’s arrival.

One the same day, RNLI Troon was requested after reports of a young girl being blown out to sea on an inflatable.

In this incident, her father headed into the sea to get her at Irvine Beach with a water rescue operator being deployed into the sea to help them back to the safety of the shoreline.

A spokesman for the Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team, said: “These inflatable toys are designed for use in a swimming pool.

“It has been extremely fortunate that no one was injured or worse due to using inflatable toys at the beach.

“The combination of warm weather and a strong easterly off shore wind has made for an extremely dangerous combination [over the] weekend, with the conditions set to remain the same over the coming days.

“Inflatables are not designed or suitable for use in the sea, especially on days when the wind is blowing off shore. 

“These inflatables should only be used in swimming pools where there’s no risk of being blown out to sea and there’s lifeguards on duty.”

Troon Lifeboat Coxswain Joe Millar , added: “After six callouts and the majority of these involving inflatables please don’t use them.”