KEVIN PATERSON - PHOTOGRAPHER - CAMERAMAN

Wednesday 2 July 2008 - Prestwick Airport had a very special visitor as the world famous Liberty Belle B-17 Flying Fortress stopped over and members of the public allowed on board to see this magnificent aircraft. See the video for EXCLUSIVE footage of the event including full interview with the crew.

Sunday 29 June 2008 - Councillor Peter McNamara was at the receiving end of some wet sponges courtesy of MSP Kenny Gibson, MP Katy Clark and other local councillors at the very successful Whitlees Gala Day.

Later that day, Ardrossan Coastguard, Troon Lifeboat and Strathclyde Police were called out to reports of a car in the water off Stevenston point. The black SAAB was reported as stolen on Saturday evening, and no persons were found in the vehicle.

Sunday 22 June - Ayr Race for Life. See Ayr Advertiser out on Tuesday 1 July for a 12 page Race for Life Special.

Monday 2 June 2008 - The former police station on New Street, Stevenston, which was then used by North Ayrshire Council as a music centre for years, went up in flames this evening.
Two appliances were turned out from Ardrossan Fire Station and the road was closed off by Strathclyde Police.

Sunday 25 May 2008 - Pop sensation Amy MacDonald plays an intimate gig at Dean Castle Courtyard, Kilmarnock, in conjunction with the Burns an aw that Festival, with supporting act Pete du Pon and his band.

Saturday 24 May 2008 - Status Quo Rock Ayr Racecourse as part of the Burns n aw that Festival.

Saturday 17 May 2008 - Burns n aw that Festival press launch at Burns Cottage, with guest appearance from Karen Dunbar. (Video coming soon)

Tuesday 29 April 2008 - Official opening of Cecchini's Restaurant, Ardrossan.

Wednesday 23 April 2008 - Workers at Highland Meats protest over union membership delay.

Wednesday 16 April 2008 - The Grange Hotel located on Saltcoats shore front was once again a blaze this afternoon. Two fire crews were sent to bring the fire under control, while police officers from the nearby Saltcoats Police Station closed off a section of the road until the fire was extinguished. This derelict listed building has been at the centre of several fires over the past few years, and currently remains somewhat of an eye sore on the local landscape.

Wednesday 9 April 2008 - Police closed off a section of the busy intersection of Long Drive and Annick Road following a road traffic accident involving two cars.

Wednesday 9 April 2008 - The Friends of the Holm Plantation group unveil their new signs aimed at helping to keep the park clean and tidy, and ensuring that it remains a popular family destination within the three towns.

Thursday 3 April 2008 - Mrs Rock n Roll Amy McDonald rocks out at Troon Concert Hall in the latest of the Rock Against Racism concerts being held throughout Scotland.

Wednesday 2 April 2008 - Large fire at a disused factory in Riverside Industrial Park, Irvine. Four fire appliances along with a high rise aerial platform were required to tackle the blaze.

Sunday 30 March 2008 - The Three Towns pays tribute to the HMS Dasher disaster which happened on 27 March 1943, when 379 servicemen paid the ultimate price for serving their country.

Tuesday 18 March 2008 - Nicola Sturgeon attends the Irvine Bay Regeneration Company's first annual public meeting, outlining the future developments that will see huge improvements of the five Ayrshire towns of Irvine, Kilwinning, Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston.

Tuesday 11 March 2008 - First Minister Alex Salmond visits Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Tuesday 4 March 2008 - A day on the Clyde with the minesweeper HMS Shoreham.

Sunday 17 February 2008 - A large section of McKellar Avenue/Whitlees Crescent remained cordoned off by police following the stabbing of a 28 year old man from Ardrossan sometime on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Friday 15 February 2008 - Several hundred residents from throughout North Ayrshire attended a meeting in Saltcoats Town Hall following the announcement that the Wardens Service within Sheltered Housing complexes will be removed. Councillor Peter MacNamara (Labour) was the only person to attend the meeting that voted for the removal of the service, and thus took the brunt of the anger that was rife throughout the meeting.

Friday 8 February 2008 - Ayrshire and Arran MP Katy Clark held a meeting in Saltcoats Town Hall to engage with the public about the current situation regarding climate change and global warming. Chairman for the evening was Father Jim McManus from St Peters Church, Ardrossan and the guest speaker of the evening was Chas Booth from Friends of the Earth based in Edinburgh.

Thursday 31 January 2008 - SEVERE WEATHER WARNING

5.30pm - The West Coast of Scotland is once again being battered by severe gales and lashing rain in yet another severe storm. Winds are gusting up to 70mph at Stevenston Point with waves crashing over Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston shore fronts as high tide approaches. Road signs have already been dislodged and structural damage is expected throughout Ayrshire.

The forecast predicts that the severe gales will continue through until tomorrow morning, with winds for Friday still expected to be above 30mph. Warnings are also in place for heavy snow fall and blizzard conditions from Friday evening through until Sunday morning.

Wednesday 16 January 2008 - 17 years after the huge floods that devastated the coastline of the seaside resort of Saltcoats, Ayrshire, work on the largely debated flood defences started today.

This will see a host of various systems in place to break up incoming sea surges and includes raising the main sea wall along the 220m shore front by 0.5 metres.

The work is expected to continue until sometime in August.

Friday 11 January 2008 - Following last nights incident at Ardrossan Harbour, the body of an unidentified female was discovered just after 9am on Ardrossan's North Shore.

A police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the body of a woman was found by a member of the public.
"There appear to be no suspicious circumstances."

Thursday 10 January 2008 - A major search and rescue operation was underway from 9.30pm in the confines of Ardrossan Harbour, after emergency services received reports of a person in the water. Ardrossan, Largs and Ayr Coastguard Rescue Teams were joined by Troon All Weather and Inshore Lifeboats, Strathclyde Police dog units and also the Strathclyde Police Air Support Unit.

Wednesday 9 January 2008 - Residents of the three towns and the west coast of Scotland are today counting the cost following a night of severe weather with gales reaching up to 90mph. The coast was battered throughout the night with many people waking this morning to scenes of devastation with roofs and tiles blown off buildings, fallen trees and localized flooding due to heavy rain.

The new luxury apartments on the former site of the Bay Hotel suffered extensive damage to its roofing, a scene somewhat common today throughout the area.

Saturday 5 January 2008 - Two unidentified adults sparked a major rescue operation this morning after their Suzuki Vitara 4x4 got stuck in the sand as the tide was coming in.

Police, Ambulance, Coastguard and the RNLI were all called out to assist with the rescue operation that at the height of the incident involved two ambulance crews, three police cars, an RNLI inshore and an All Weather lifeboat from Troon.

Members of the Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team were also on site to assist with the recovery of the vehicle. No one is believed to have been injured in this incident.