A woman who was walking on a beach has died after being swept into the sea.

The public alerted the coastguard after seeing a woman unresponsive in the sea at Nisabost on the Isle of Harris.

STV News understands she was walking along the beach before being swept into the sea at 7.45am on Wednesday.

She was recovered by a helicopter and taken to Western Isles Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her family have been made aware.

Inspector Jane Nicolson said: "Our thoughts first and foremost are with the woman's family and friends.

"We are carrying out enquiries to establish the full circumstances which have led to her death and this work is at an early stage.

"The death is currently unexplained, though initial enquiries suggest there are no suspicious circumstances.

"We are grateful for the assistance of our partners in the emergency services and members of the public in relation to this incident."

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman added: "HM Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public at 7.45am this morning saying that a woman was in difficulty in the water near Horgabost, Isle of Harris.

"The coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Stornoway, coastguard rescue teams from Scalpay and Tarbert, and the Leverburgh RNLI lifeboat were sent.

"The woman was recovered from the water by the helicopter.

"Stornoway Coastguard Rescue Team manned the helicopter landing site at the Western Isles Hospital, where the woman was passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service and transferred on to the hospital."