A Dumbarton-based group which aims to support Palestinian children hosted a multi-event fundraising day on Saturday to help a group of kids from the West Bank to travel to the town next month.

West Dunbartonshire Supports Palestine Campaign Group had a daytime sponsored walk to the Crag Hills in Dumbarton. following by a social evening in the Ben View centre, all as part of efforts to support a group of Palestinian children to Scotland to perform as part of a joint cultural festival in the Denny Civic Theatre in July.

The events raised over £2000 in efforts to bring over around a dozen children from a camp near Bethlehem.

The social evening included a series of raffles, games and music from local band Innis Fada, as well as a talk from Vale-based oncology specialist Dr Gerry O'Hare - who has spent time in Gaza and the West Bank - about the work he has done there and some video messages from Palestinian medical staff he met on his trip.

The group's chairman, Chris Docherty, said: "We're bringing over a dozen kids from the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem to take part in the festival. It costs around £1000 for each child to come over and it's a serious challenge to get them over here because they can't use Tel Aviv airport and have to travel through Jordan, but even then it's difficult to cross the Allenby Bridge.

"It's all about making it joyful for them. Last year, we had twenty over and we took them to Dumbarton Castle and went to a civic reception. They were flabbergasted by it all and they could properly relax for the first time."

Chris also hopes that the response to their visit will match the welcome achieved last year.

He said: "Last year, Denny was full for the event we did last year and so many people were asking when they were coming back and said they really enjoyed themselves. It was a great reception, and we're hoping for the same this time around."