At least one person has died after being pulled from the sea off Aberdeen beach, police said.

A rescue operation was launched around 4.40pm on Saturday after reports of people in difficulties in the water.

An area of the beach was cordoned off while police, fire and ambulance services attended the incident.

A lifeboat crew rescued two of the people from the water before they were taken to hospital. The other two people were rescued by police.

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It is understood that two of the casualties were women and the other two were young boys.

Following the incident, a police spokesman said one person had died.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said: ” We received a report of four people who were in the water at Aberdeen beach.

“Two were recovered by police and two were recovered by Aberdeen inshore lifeboat.

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“The people that were recovered by lifeboat were taken to hospital by ambulance.”

A police spokesman said: “Members of the public are thanked for their co-operation while the rescue is ongoing.

“Further information will be issued as soon as possible.”