Urgent calls have been made to install lighting at the playing fields beside the Circuit in Irvine’s Quarry Road.

The plea came from former Irvine Community Council chairman David Dunlop at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the group.

He said: "A woman is housing a Ukrainian family, who walk around the town. They say Irvine playing fields are in complete darkness after 4pm and there are no lights there.

"The only light they get is from the Circuit if it is operational. It would be good if we could get some kind of lighting at the playing fields. 

"They have that cycle track where you can walk as well. What’s the point in having that if no one is going to use it and it's pitch black."

Community development worker Elaine Walker said: "In Troon, there was a cheaper option of building lights into the tarmac on the cycle path."

But new chairman Chris Pless said: "The trouble with these solar lights is you only get a couple of years of them and then the batteries go."

A spokesman for KA Leisure said: "We have not received any requests regarding lighting at the Quarry Road playing fields but would be happy to discuss the matter further if a request is received."