Lifeboat responds to '˜distress signal' from Mars

Stornoway RNLI lifeboat launched last night (Wednesday, September 6th) at 2115 hours to reports of red flares being spotted between the Point Peninsula and the Shiant Islands.

By The Newsroom

Published 6th Sep 2018, 12:22 BST

Updated 6th Sep 2018, 12:25 BST

The RNLI lifeboat launched at the request of Stornoway Coastguard and, along with fishery protection vessel ‘Minna’, commenced a search from the Shiants in a northerly heading towards Point.

Shortly after the search began, the Coastguard established that the reports were in fact the planet Mars.

Stornoway RNLI lifeboat was stood down and refuelled and returned to berth, ready for service again by midnight last night.