THREE people were rescued from a motor boat that caught fire off the coast of Gourock.

The coastguard was called to a stretch of water between Kilcreggan and Gourock Pier at reports of a blaze aboard a 38feet vessel.

Calls to the incident came in around 10.17am this morning and emergency services raced to the scene.

All three of the passengers on board were picked up by the passing Island Princess ferry.

Greenock Coastguard Search and Resuce are currently at the scene along with police and fire brigade.

Fire fighters were taken to the boat by an RNLI vessel and were, shortly before noon, tackling the blaze, which is believed to have started in the boat's engine room

It is not yet known where the boat was from or the identities of those on board.

A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "Shortly after 10.55am this morning we received a call from Her Majesty's Coastguard in Belfast requiring our assistance following reports of a fire on a motor boat off the coast of Inverclyde.

"The fire was located in the ingine room and fire fighters are being taken on to the boat by an RNLI crew."