OUTLINE plans to move Loch Lomond's rescue boat to a new permanent base have been unveiled.

The Loch Lomond Rescue Boat charity has prepared a pre-planning application for a new boat shed in Balloch.

The service which is entirely manned by volunteers has been based at Luss since it was founded in 1977.

The charity has identified a suitable site near Balloch Pier, close to the mouth of the River Leven, but they say they need around £300,000 in funding before the new base can become a reality.

Between July and September last year, the rescue boat was kept in the water close to Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway - which is near to the preferred site for the new boatshed.

The application says that during this time, response times were accelerated - but that the vessel can’t remain in the water for prolonged periods of time as its condition will deteriorate.

The rescue boat's volunteer crew was called out to two incidents in the space of 24 hours last summer in which four people drowned in the loch.

Connor Markward, 16, died on Friday, July 23 whilst playing with friends in the loch near Balloch Country Park.

The following day, Edina Olahova, 29, Rana Haris Ali, nine, and Muhammad Asim Riaz, 39, died after getting into difficulty in the water off Pulpit Rock, near Ardlui.

In a post on social media a spokesperson for the rescue boat said: "We would like to thank The Hay Partnership for investing their time in this part free of charge. Let’s hope now that all parties involved can support us in making this happen."

Last week it was annnounced that the area's MSP, Jackie Baillie, had secured £5,000 in funding from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to help relocate the boat to save more lives.

She said: “I am delighted to have secured this funding from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. 

"Having also discussed the matter directly with the rescue boat, relocation to Balloch as opposed to an additional vessel is the preferred way forward and they have my support in their quest to achieve that.

“The important thing now is to make sure that this is done promptly and the authorities involved ensure that the land is made available for the rescue boat at the earliest opportunity in time for the busy summer season.

"The last thing anyone wants to see is more horrific tragedies on our local waterways.”