TRIBUTES have been paid to two friends who drowned while swimming in a reservoir.

Sean Marshall, 20, and Ross Munn, 17, were with a group of friends when they entered the water at Mill Glen Reservoir in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, at around 7.40pm on Monday night.

Mr Munn is understood to have got into difficulty and Mr Marshall, who was known as Sean Paul, tried to help but they were both pulled under and did not resurface.

A third man then entered the reservoir to help but could not find them. Friends called police, who arrived with divers, a helicopter and around 10 firefighters and coastguard staff.

The bodies were pulled from Mill Glen Reservoir by police divers on Sunday night.

At the reservoir yesterday, grieving friends and relatives laid tributes to the young men.

Friends visited the scene ­yesterday to leave flowers and other tributes, including a grey teddy bear.

One woman, Stephanie ­Hutchinson, stuck a note with a single purple flower and a teddy bear to the small wall that surrounds the reservoir.

It said: "Still can't believe that both of you have gone, I'm so heartbroken. Both of you were very special to me and to all your friends and family.

"I'll miss you guys so much, if only I could get one more hug and hear your voice one last time. Love you both so much, RIP Ross and Sean."

Mill Glen is around 131ft wide and 26ft deep. It is located among farmland about a mile north-east of Ardrossan and police said it is popular with local people, particularly during the summer.

A neighbour of Mr Marshall's said: "Supposedly they had spent the day up there fishing. One of the boys went in swimming and got into bother so Sean Paul jumped in to try and help him. The group of friends got help but it must have been too late.

"The dam is a popular spot for children to hang about but this just proves how dangerous it is up there."

Another friend said: "Sean Paul and Ross were always really close pals. You never saw one without the other and they always hung about up at the dam.

"They were both lovely guys and Sean Paul is being named a hero all over Facebook. He would do anything for anyone and it's such a shame."

Superintendent Neil Kerr, from Police Scotland, said the group had been "enjoying the good weather, swimming in the reservoir".

He warned people about the dangers of playing or swimming in open water.

He said: "It may look calm on the surface but there may be strong undercurrents. The water can also be very cold and deep, and there are often sudden drops and underwater obstacles and undergrowth that you cannot see, causing even the strongest of swimmers to get into difficulty very easily."

Carlene McAvoy, Scotland's community safety development officer for health and safety organisation RoSPA, said: "When the weather hots up we understand the temptation to go swimming in open water, like a reservoir, but there are many issues that people may not be aware of.

"Things to remember are that the water might be a lot colder and deeper than you expect, and there may be strong currents and underwater debris which may lead to even the most experienced swimmer getting into difficulties.

"Consider how you are going to get out of the water before you get in and be honest about your swimming ability. RoSPA's advice is to go swimming at properly-supervised sites, such as beaches, lidos or swimming pools, although we appreciate that not everyone can get to these locations."

Police Scotland said a report would be sent to the procurator-fiscal.