Emergency crews were called out after a child went missing on Irvine Beach - before another youngster was taken to hospital after collapsing in the water.

The child was reported missing at around 1.30pm today (Thursday, June 28), with call outs from the police, coastguard and lifeboat crews. 

However after a frantic search the youngster was fortunatly found by a Coastwatch volunteer.

Emergency services were on alert again when a four-year-old boy collapsed in the sea.

The boy was later taken to Crosshouse as a precaution.

Coastwatch manager Billy Lamb said: "Our first incident of the day was a missing child, he had been missing for some time when we were informed. 

"The second incident was a four-year-old lad who collapsed in shallow water, one of our volunteers was quickly on the scene, the other volunteer contacted Belfast Cosatguard to request an ambulance and also to say the missing child had been found.

"The volunteer placed the semi conscious lad in the recovery position and kept him closely monitored. The lad started to recover expelling sea water."

An Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team spokesperson said: "The team was called out just before 1.30pm today after a report was received from the voluntary group Coastwatch Irvine regarding a missing child on Irvine Beach.

"The team responded immediately alongside Ayr Coastguard Rescue Team and Troon Lifeboat, with officers from Ayrshire Police Division also attending.

"As the team arrived on scene, an update was received that the child was found safe and well and all was in order.

"Whilst on the beach, a second incident occurred whereby a young child had been pulled from the water having collapsed whilst in the sea.

"All resources were diverted to assist with the child being tended to paramedics who were on scene, with the child being conveyed to Crosshouse Hospital as a precaution."