North Wales Police said it would "rigorously prosecute" hoaxers

The coastguard has condemned hoaxers who made a bogus emergency call late on Christmas Day.

The callers claimed somebody had fallen from the Blue Bridge at Rhyl Harbour.

A rescue crew was sent to the area at 2300 GMT but found no sign of an incident.

It follows a spate of hoax calls, believed to be the work of one man, to north Wales coastguards.

Earlier this week a recording of the man making one of the calls was released.

Last Saturday a Llandudno lifeboat battled through gale-force winds and high waves looking for a non-existent fishing boat.

This was like any hoax call putting other people's lives in danger Geoff Lunt, Watch Manager at Holyhead

It is thought to be at least the fourth time the man, believed to be in his 30s or 40s and using a VHF radio, has called in the last six weeks.

But a spokeswoman for the Holyhead coastguard said they do not believe last night's call was made by the same man.

Geoff Lunt, Watch Manager at Holyhead, said: ""This was like any hoax call putting other people's lives in danger.

Police investigation

"It could have prevented a crew reaching someone if there had been a real situation."

Children are suspected of being responsible.

A lifeboat was not scrambled but coastguard crews wasted an hour investigating the call.

Mr Lunt said the police were investigating the incident and examining a recording of the call.