ALLOA school pupils took part in a writing competition for The Unwritten Letters Project.

Children at Park Primary were invited to pen a message to an imaginary refugee, or to the government, to get them thinking about migration.

The project was launched by Rev Carol Anne Parker of Alloa Ludgate Parish Church and her late music partner Rev Stephen Brown of the United Reformed Church.

It was focused on exploring Scotland's migration stories past and present and work from the youngsters was displayed during a long weekend of art, music, poetry and talks.

Ms Parker said: "The contest was part of the Unwritten Letters Project and it was meant to give a voice to our young people, give them space to express their views regarding issues of migration and in particular about refugees.

"And so they were invited to imagine they were writing to a refugee child, or to write to the government to share their opinions about policy."

The letters selected, by Rosa MacPherson who was involved in the project, best represented the views of the class and Ms Parker was impressed by how expressive, articulate and empathetic the children were.

She said they were feisty in their notes and "pulled no punches" with the government while sharing their views.

She added: "Others were writing to sort of imagined refugee children and they had done some groundwork with their teachers.

"They had looked at Unicef videos of children stuck on borders and so on and they were asking about their lives.

"They were wondering what their lives were like, what they had left, whether they got to go to school, where there families were, whether they were separated from them – they were very thoughtful letters."

The overall winner of the contest was Daria Ionescu who secured £100 for her school and a £20 book token.

Pieces from Melissa Smith, Abby Patterson, Gregor Whyte, Ross Graham, Lewis Innes, Tia Hynd and Harris Henderson were also celebrated in the exhibition.

P7 teacher at Park Primary, Gemma Boyd, said: "We were invited to take part in the project and we felt that because it's such a topical issue at the moment, particularly with some refugee families coming to Alloa specifically..., that it was something that was really relevant.

"We felt that primary seven could cope with some of the content of what we would need to discuss and it gave us a really good opportunity to talk about lots of things that we wouldn't have otherwise brought up.

"The children loved it, they were really interested in it – they got a chance to express their views, had quite a lot of debate and we were really pleased with the finished pieces."

As part of the project, events took place at Alloa Ludgate Church from Thursday, June 22, to Sunday, June 25.

There was 'Where I eat my bread' with Brian MacLeod and classical guitarist Ayman Jarjour, 'We were migrants once' with Professor James Hunter and songs by Rev Parker, and 'Bits of twig' with Rosa Idziak MacPherson and the UL Team.

In addition, there were exhibitions by Ian Collins, 'Transient Landscapes', Rhoda Meek , 'A' Tilleadhh/Returning', and the letters written by the children.

They were free to attend, although donations will go to Save the Children.

Ms Parker's latest album Skin Over Bone was also released to coincide with it, with proceeds going to the same cause.