GENEROUS funding from a Three Towns housing association helped support this year's Saltcoats Christmas Carnival.

The group responsible for organising the festive event, the Saltcoats Community Action Group (SCAG), benefitted from £1,000 of funding from Cunninghame Housing Association's (CHA) 'Making Our Communities Better Places Fund'.

The SCAG  has been running for many years, originally set up by the late Martha McNicol to provide Christmas Lights to Saltcoats which then evolved into the Christmas Carnival.

The group is now made up of three core volunteers Elaine Meney, Tom McCammont and Alec Wilkie.

They aim to deliver the annual event in Saltcoats with help from many local groups on the day such as ATC, the Sea Cadets, and North Ayrshire Council community liaison officers.

SCAG looks to provide a day of fun and entertainment on the last Sunday of November allowing families to have a great day out in the town.

The event provides a full day of free entertainment, which allows local artists, performers, dance schools and school bands to showcase their talents.

The Christmas Carnival event coincides with the town's Christmas lights switch on.

The funding provided by CHA helped subsidise part of the cost of the fairground which was available on the night.

The SCAG provided the fairground for the day and then charged individuals a small fee allowing children to go on and off rides as they wished.

Alec Wilkie, Chairperson of the Saltcoats Community Action Group was delighted by the support.

He said: “Once again many thanks to all at CHA for your generous donation and it was an incredible day for everyone."

While Lesley Keenan, Chairperson of CHA added: “Given the current climate, and the challenges people face, we are delighted to be able to provide financial assistance to the Saltcoats Community Action Group supporting a fantastic day for the local community whilst taking away the huge expense for families.”