23/08/2005

Coastguard hit out at flare hoax

Belfast coastguard have hit out at hoaxers who set off a number of flares on the Antrim coast on Monday.

Lifeboats from Bangor and Larne were launched after reports of a number of red distress flares being seen off the Islandmagee area.

A spokesperson for the coastguard said important resources were wasted as a result of the hoax.

"When we take red flare reports, we have to act on them immediately and take them as genuine," he said.

"If there had been a genuine call, our resources would have been tied up at a different location."

(MB/GB)

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