NEW free self-defence classes have been launched for women after a survey revealed shocking levels of fear and harassment in the district.

The area's women's champion, Councillor Lynne Quinn, is today urging people to sign up for the courses.

The programme has been set up hot on the heels of a taster class by Oana Stan from Wing Tsjun Scotland at the Beacon Arts Centre last year.

Councillor Quinn said: "It all started with the council’s women’s safety survey.

"It revealed that women were not being active because of a fear of going out alone, particularly in the dark.

"A comment from one of the ladies hoping for the classes to be brought to Inverclyde stuck with me.

"She said: 'I don’t know when I last went out alone in the dark locally'.

"So we wanted to run community self defence classes to empower women to live their lives and be active as possible."

Instructor Oana will be running the martial arts based defence classes, which have been made possible after community care forum Your Voice secured funding through CVS Inverclyde.

Oana said: "We hope to increase women’s feeling of safety, confidence, to reduce isolation and teach them practical skills and empower them.

"It's about empowering women, giving them the skills they need to defend themselves if required.

"This should help increase their confidence to go out and live their lives.

"These sessions will also be useful for any lone workers who may be concerned about their safety whilst working in the community.

"The classes are free as we did not want the cost to be a barrier for anyone taking part."

Jo Adams, who works as a community connector at Your Voice, said: "It is very much needed, it's good to give women the confidence to go out."

Bethan Dunsmore, a dementia development and project worker with Your Voice, went along to the taster session with a colleague last year and said it was 'fantastic'.

She said: "The great thing is it is with other women, so it is a safe environment which is key.

The sessions will run once a fortnight starting on March 30 at Craigend Resource Centre in Greenock.

They run until June 8 across different local venues and are open to females of all ages, although under 14s need to be accompanied by an adult.

To book places visit tinyurl.com/fffza7cw or email craig.mclaren-gow@yourvoice.org.uk