Gutsy Dumbarton and Vale residents seeking an unusual charity challenge or looking to transform their mindset are being encouraged to take part in the area’s first ever “fire walk”.

or can take a crack at walking over burning embers at Dumbarton’s first fire walk event.

Fire and glass walk instructor Karen McGroarty, from Alexandria, will lead the event at the Dumbuck House Hotel next month.

Karen, 51, who did her first fire walk for her 45th birthday and was immediately hooked, said: “It’s an emotional thing – a very transformational experience. It’s about getting rid of the stuff that doesn’t work for you any more.”

This will be the second event Karen, who led has organised, after she led a charity fire walk with a group of firefighters back in 2015, explained it’s the perfect challenge for anyone going through big life changes.

Karen, who also runs Citrine Therapies, said: “Some people do it because they got divorced, or are dealing with a health crisis. Or they just want to try it.

“We’ll light the fire, and then there is a workshop, before we go out to the fire together as a group. Nobody gets coerced into doing it.”

Karen is taking bookings now - and she hopes the event will be popular enough to run on a more regular basis in future.

The fire walking will be take place on Friday, August 31, from 7pm, for participants aged over 16.