RESIDENTS travelled from Upper Nithsdale to Dumfries for a protest against Trident nuclear weapons.

They were joined by MSPs Emma Harper and Joan McAlpine, leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s SNP group Andy Ferguson, and hundreds of people from across the region.

The demonstration, against the renewal of Britain’s nuclear weapons programme, was ahead of Monday’s vote in Westminster.

Speaking at Saturday’s protest, organised by the Scottish Scrap Trident Coalition, Ms McAlpine said: “All across Scotland today people made it clear what we think of spending £205billion on a new generation of nuclear weapons.

“We don’t want them. They are illegal. They are immoral. They don’t protect us, indeed they make us more vulnerable to attack. Our Scottish Parliament has voted against Trident renewal.”

Fellow MSP Emma Harper also opposes Trident, adding that is too expensive considering the austerity measures put in place by the Conservative UK government.

She added: “It is immoral to use weapons of mass destruction which target civilians, we have seen this with Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

“I was pleased, but not surprised to see so many people join us in Dumfries on Saturday to protest the renewal of this deadly and unnecessary weapon of mass destruction.”

Mr Ferguson said: “It is high time Westminster started listening to the people of Scotland.”