WETHERSPOONS pubs in Ayrshire are the latest in the country to sign up to a scheme aimed at supporting people with disabilities.

The Auld Brig (Irvine), The Salt Cot (Saltcoats), The Paddle Steamer (Largs), The Wheatsheaf (Kilmarnock), The Prestwick Pioneer (Prestwick) and The West Kirk (Ayr) have all now joined the Keep Safe Scotland Scheme.

Keep Safe is an award-winning initiative led by Police Scotland that started in response to feedback from people with disabilities, who said they sometimes did not feel safe when travelling independently.

Ran in partnership with I Am Me Scotland, the project was originally developed to support disabled to participate in community life, free from fear of harassment and abuse.

It has evolved significantly since then and there is now a national network of more than 1,000 Keep Safe places throughout Scotland.

As part of the process to become a Keep Safe Place, all staff at the five JD Wetherspoon pubs have now received their training from the North Ayrshire preventions and interventions officer.

An Ayrshire Police spokesperson added: "Their prominent locations make them ideal premises for users of the Keep Safe scheme."

The initiative is available for anyone to use if they feel lost, scared, vulnerable, or need breathing space.

For more information on the scheme, you can visit iammescotland.co.uk/about-keep-safe.