Distress flares' misuse angers coastguards

SHOPS selling time-expired distress flares - and buyers who set them off without reason - have been slammed by Coastguards.

A total of 12 man-hours was spent by Coastguards at Bexhill and Eastbourne on Sunday night after the crew of a yacht spotted a red distress flare between the two towns.

After an extensive search, nothing was amiss was found.

Now Coastguards believe the flare was deliberately set off from onshore rather from a vessel in distress.

With Bexhill colleague Tom Bloor, local station officer Dick Rowsell spent three hours scanning the coastline with night-vision binoculars.

The emergency services are duty-bound to make a thorough check on any flare sightings in case lives are in danger.

But flares let off irresponsibly onshore are becoming increasing common.

He said on Monday: "People who see these things being set off know they are being set off on land so they don't tell anyone.

"But they are the people we WANT to hear from.