A four-hour search for a missing paddleboarder turned out to be a “false alarm with good intent”.

HM Coastguard launched a rescue mission following reports of paddleboarders in difficulty off Widewall Bay, Orkney, at around 9.15pm on Wednesday.

Two water rescue teams, an all-weather lifeboat and a helicopter joined the search in the Scappa Flow area.

The callout stopped just after 1am on Thursday after it was confirmed all parties were safely ashore.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said it was a “false alarm with good intent”.

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They added: “HM Coastguard responded to reports of paddleboarders in difficulty off Widewall Bay, Orkney, last night.

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“Alerted at around 9.15pm, coastguard rescue teams from Kirkwall and St Margaret’s Hope, an all-weather lifeboat from Longhope RNLI and the coastguard helicopter from Sumburgh were sent to the scene.

“Investigations found that everyone was ashore safely and the search was terminated.”

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