Provost Jim Todd hoisted the Red Ensign, or ‘Red Duster’, to mark Merchant Navy Day and raise awareness of the UK’s ongoing dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers.

East Ayrshire Council was supporting a nationwide call from the Seafarers UK charity and the Merchant Navy Association for the UK Merchant Navy’s official flag to be flown on public buildings and landmark flagstaffs.

Provost Todd said: “Our Chief Executive Fiona Lees and I were pleased to support Merchant Navy Day which raises awareness about the real importance of our merchant shipping industry. Being an island nation, the vast majority of goods arriving or leaving from the UK do so by sea.”