VIGILANT police are on standby for any potential trouble when Troon Beach is set to see an influx of teenagers on the May Bank Holiday weekend.

They will have a strong presence on Monday, May 6 when train-loads of youngsters, some taking a break from their exams, descend on the coast for a traditional get-together.

In past years there has been trouble related to booze. But police have been confiscating alcohol from them before leaving Glasgow to help avoid the potential for trouble.

A police spokesman said at a Troon Community Council meeting: “We fully expect that there will be an influx on the May Bank Holiday Weekend. The kids come down every year.

“The Superintendent Colin Martin has decided this year to have a policing operation in place for that day.

“There will be a large number of officers dedicated to it over that weekend.

“If it happens that the heavens open and it rains, the officers will be used on other duties.

“We are working along with Scotrail and British Transport Police as we did last year. We will use the facilities at the Walker Hall as a command centre. Other than that we will use the same system as last year.

“If we get information the kids are coming down then the police, British Transport Police, Red Cross and South Ayrshire Council all up our response levels.”

Police also confirmed they were also looking into areas where potential grass fires could be set on the golf courses and working with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue on this.

There have also been reports about dogs worrying sheep in the Troon area and the police will be putting out posters to highlight concerns about this.”