Rescuers are searching for a man missing in the Firth of Clyde after two others were pulled from the water.

Police said two men aged 33 and 36 were rescued by lifeboat after entering the water near Gourock on Saturday night, after two boats got into difficulty off Cardwell Bay.

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A 55-year-old man remains missing and the search for him is ongoing.

A Coastguard helicopter, Helensburgh lifeboat and Coastguard rescue teams from Greenock, Helensburgh and Kilgreggan were sent to the scene on Saturday night, scouring the area until 3am when the weather and darkness called a halt to the search.

All returned on Sunday morning, except the helicopter, which was hampered by poor weather conditions.

Duty controller for HM Coastguard Ben Hambling said: ‘We received the call around 11.20 on Saturday evening which said two boats had got into difficulty in that area.

“We have carried out an extensive search and two men have been rescued by the lifeboat.

“The search for the other man continued until just after 3am when the weather and darkness made it too difficult to continue.”

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A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Officers in Greenock received reports from the coastguard of an ongoing incident on the Firth of Clyde near Gourock around 10 past midnight on Sunday December 8.

“A 36-year-old man and a 33-year-old man were rescued from the water. A 55-year-old man is still missing and the search is continuing.”