A Vale teenager has raised nearly £200 for a local group.

Kieran Ashton, 14, made the decision to dye his hair blue to raise money for the local autism forum, and to raise awareness of the condition.

Proud dad William said it was not the first time Kieran had put himself out to raise money for charity.

He told the Reporter: "It was his idea, the past couple of years we have done the Kiltwalk to raise some money.

"This year we were too late to get registered.

"Kieran has Aspergers himself, he wanted to do this to raise awareness.

"It's his way of saying 'I've got it, and I can do something'."

Kieran, who turns 15 next week, went to Curlz Hair Salon in Jamestown to get his hair dyed.

The kind-hearted hairdressers did the job for free.

William said: "When Kieran said to them and asked how much it would be, they said they would do it free of charge as it was for charity.

"It was nice of them to do that."

The family have been involved in the Vale of Leven Autism/Aspergers Forum (VOLAAF) for around five years.

The money raised by Kieran will go into the group, to help support activities.

William said there were between 50 and 100 kids in Dumbarton and the Vale and further afield supported by the group.

VOLAAF works as a support group for families in the West of Scotland area, which William said was growing daily.

The group originally focussed on families in Dumbarton and the Vale, but it is "rapidly growing" with people travelling from Glasgow and Renfrew to use the service.

Kieran is nearly at his target of £200.

Mum Angela said: "VOLAAF has been a great source of support for Kieran and the whole family, so Kieran decided he wanted to do this to help raise awareness of Light It Up Blue day (April 2) which is Autism Awareness Day worldwide."

Kieran was diagnosed with Aspergers - a high functioning form of Autism, when he was 10.

Now in third year at the Vale of Leven Academy, the teenager is keen to raise money for the local group.

His dad said all of Kieran's friends had been supportive of the youngster.

He said: "His friends are being really supportive, he put it on his Facebook page and it was phenomenal the amount of his friends who said they would wear blue once they realised what it was for."

April is Autism Awareness Month.