A DUMBARTON-BASED music studio hit by the theft of their “pride and joy” equipment van is finally back on the road with a new vehicle.

SKapade Studios’ community and charity work, bringing electronic music to schools and groups across the area, was put in jeopardy back in June when their van was snatched.

But an overwhelming show of community support – including a crowdfunder raising more than £1,700 – has turned a devastating incident into a real feel-good story, says company Stephen Kirkwood.

“It’s been amazing – I’m absolutely blown away with the help and support,” Stephen told the Reporter.

“Massive thanks to everyone who has helped and sent messages. It’s about how you overcome diversity and thinking, ‘I’m not going to take the hit’. We’ve got to try and turn it into a positive.

“It’s the message we try to give to the young people we work with. It’s our ethos – it does sting but you’ve got to really try to turn it around.”

Stephen says the crowdfunder donations from kind-hearted members of the community will now go towards getting signage sorted for the new vehicle.

The new wheels could not have arrived at a more crucial time for SKapade as the award-winning social enterprise is about to branch out to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee to work with youngsters from difficult backgrounds alongside The Prince’s Trust and Creative Scotland.

And the team will also give a talk to a sold-out Fire Up Scotland event at the SSE Hydro on September 12, with two 15-year-olds they have been working with taking to the decks to show off their DJing skills to 12,000 people.