ANTI-NUCLEAR campaigners from across Scotland gathered at Helensburgh Parish Church on Saturday for the annual conference organised by the local branch of the CND.

Organised on the theme of ‘Disarming Nuclear Scotland’ the conference was split into three parts, with the morning seeing speakers from the SNP, the Scottish Green Party and Scottish CND take to the stage, among them West Dunbartonshire MP Martin Docherty-Hughes.

That was followed by five more local perspectives on life close to the nuclear weapons at HM Naval Base Clyde, including the Rev Mitchell Bunting of Helensburgh United Reformed Church, who is also a member of Scottish Christians Against Nuclear Arms (SCANA), and residents of the peace camp at Faslane.

READ MORE: Woman arrested as Faslane peace camp remembers Hiroshima

Mr Bunting said: “I outlined national Churches’ position on nuclear weapons and showed a photo from an act of worship organised by SCANA outside the North Gate at Faslane at Pentecost 2018.

“It shows Right Rev Susan Brown, then Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Bishop William Nolan, President of the Scottish Catholic Bishops’ Justice and Peace Commission, holding a letter signed by them and other Scottish church leaders.

“The letter called on the UK government to urgently develop a transition plan so that the UK is ready to sign and ratify the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at the earliest opportunity, adding that we pledge to continue to do our part to realise a world without nuclear weapons.”

READ MORE: Faslane celebration 'depressing', say anti-nuclear campaigners

Saturday’s event – Helensburgh CND’s third annual conference – closed with a series of ‘keynote’ presentations on how CND members might work with other organisations to achieve ‘disarmament through divestment’.

Alongside the conference, an exhibition entitled ‘Scotland: A Peace of History’ ran throughout the day, along with stalls, book signings, leaflets and literature.

Ellen Renton from Helensburgh CND said: “Numbers were a wee bit down on the previous two events but it’s hard for everyone right now with the political shenanigans going on at Westminster.

“However the quality of the speakers, and the quality of the audience, more than made up for it. Lots of people said they had found the day both informative and enjoyable, and there was some cracking debate.”

READ MORE: Check out all the latest news stories from around Helensburgh and Lomond here