Women in Dumbarton and the Vale are being urged to show their solidarity in the fight to make the streets safer by joining a “Reclaim the Night” demonstration in Alexandria on Tuesday, November 27.

Participants will meet at the top of Mitchell Way in front of the Co-op at 6.30pm for a 7pm start, before marching along Main Street then Stephen Street, Gray Street and Suzannah Street, near to where an attack on a 49-year-old woman took place in August 2016.

This is the second event to be organised by Lynda Hannah McEwan, a women’s rights activist, after she held a ‘Reclaim the Night’ demonstration in Dumbarton in 2016 which attracted 70 people.

The theme of this year’s event is sexual harassment in the workplace. It is also being filmed for a BBC documentary about poverty in Scotland which will be presented by rapper and social commentator Darren “Loki” McGarvey.

He is also the author of Poverty Safari: Understanding the Anger of Britain’s Underclass.

The six-part documentary will be looking at how poverty affects women in West Dunbartonshire and the initiatives that are being put in place to fight back against gender-based violence.

Lynda said: “A recent police report revealed that sexual crimes have increased by 51 per cent since 2016 in West Dunbartonshire.

“This is unacceptable in an area where poverty dominates much of the landscape for women.

“This event will give us a chance to make our voices heard and to force the council and Scottish government to reverse all austerity measures which endanger women’s lives disproportionately.

“Women live five years less than our counterparts in East Dunbartonshire.

“Let’s say ‘no’ to sexual harassment in the workplace, in our homes and on the streets.”

Lynda will be speaking at the event along with Louise Robertson from West Dunbartonshire Community Party and local women’s rights activist Emma McKerry.

They will be talking about rape culture and the need for more education in schools, colleges, workplaces and trade unions to end violence against women and teach the importance of consent.

Lynda, who is a member of the Scottish Socialist Party, added: “This event is inclusive – everyone is welcome to join us. It will be a fun night with like-minded people and give you the chance to be on TV.”

Visit the “Reclaim the Night West Dunbartonshire 2018” page on Facebook for details.