Oban lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald was launched in the early hours of this morning, 18 August, to investigate reports of a 21ft aluminium boat which had been taken from Loch Melfort, on Scotland’s west coast.

A lifeboat spokesman said: ‘The vessel had been driven at very high speed towards Shuna, by a person who was thought to be intoxicated.’

Concerned for the safety of the person and others in the vicinity, at 12.45am Stornoway Coastguard requested a search for the vessel be undertaken by the volunteer crew of the lifeboat in the area around Shuna and then back along the shorelines of the Loch.

After searching and finding nothing unusual, Oban lifeboat was stood down at 3.20am and returned to station, where she was refuelled and ready for service again at 4.46am.

The aluminium boat was later reported to have been found on the shoreline near to where it had been taken.