Men found on beach after search

Clyde Coastguard said it was pleased to have found the men

Two men have been found on the Isle of Bute after a problem with the boat they were in sparked a major search.

Their small rigid inflatable vessel broke down in rough seas on Saturday night, and they were poorly equipped, with no radio and only one lifejacket.

The men raised the alarm using a mobile phone which later ran out of power and the coastguard launched a search.

The incident came amid a 48-hour walkout by coastguard staff in a long-running dispute over pay.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said "normal service" would be unaffected during the action and rescue helicopters and RNLI boats would continue to operate.

We were very pleased to find these two men, particularly as one was not wearing a lifejacket John Griffiths Clyde Coastguard

The search for the two men, who had been attending a Highland Games event, involved two coastguard rescue teams, two lifeboats, a rescue helicopter, police and a yacht, the "Rough Diamond", after the men made a 999 call at 2223 BST.

Their boat ran into problems while they were heading back to Rothesay Pier. They stayed on the phone for an hour trying to describe their position, before the battery ran out.

The men were found at Ardmaleish Point at 0255 BST, after drifting ashore to the Isle of Bute and lighting a fire to attract attention.

John Griffiths, of Clyde Coastguard, which co-ordinated the search, said: "We were very pleased to find these two men, particularly as one was not wearing a lifejacket."

The coastguard said the incident showed how important it was for anyone setting sail to check the weather forecast and make sure they are properly equipped.