COASTGUARD chiefs today denied allegations a top officer in Belfast had quit in protest after the station took over River Clyde rescues from Greenock.

Claims emerged last week that a top official had resigned because of 'dangerous overwork' following last month's transfer of operations.

Inverclyde MP Iain McKenzie is now calling for urgent talks about the safety of Coastguard services covering the Clyde area and has demanded that UK transport minister Patrick McLoughlin MP appear urgently before the Scottish Affairs Select Committee.

But coastguard bosses have flatly denied the quit claims.

Management at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said they had spoken to the officer, who insisted he had left for 'personal reasons'.

A spokeswoman said: "He said very strongly that his decision to leave was nothing to do with the transfer of responsibilities from Greenock to Belfast."

The UK Government sparked anger when it pushed through the closure of Greenock's coastguard station and transfer of operations to Belfast despite months of pressure by campaigners, who feared the controversial move would create safety problems.

MP Mr McKenzie said: "The transition hasn't gone as smoothly as the government had promised."

The MP said he was demanding 'urgent answers' from the government.

Mr McKenzie added: "The public must have confidence in coastguard services, and to date it would seem that confidence is ebbing and flowing like the tide between ourselves and Belfast."

Britain's top coastguard officer, Sir Alan Massey, insisted during a visit to Greenock last month that seafarers would be safer than ever following the transfer to Belfast.