Young refugees who fled Iraq for North Ayrshire are learning judo to help them recover from the horrors of war.

The Loretta Doyle Foundation has started a 13-week programme designed to enrich the lives of 20 Iraqi refugee children and young adults who have been rehoused in the area by the Scottish Government and local authorities.

And it will be followed soon by another programme for Ukrainian refugees.

Former World and European judo champion Loretta Doyle runs the programme at her base in West Kilbride.

Irvine Times: Judo lessons for the Iraqi refugees in North Ayrshire

Not only does the class aim to help these new judokas achieve their first grade, it offers so much more.

Bringing refugees into the judo family provides a sense of belonging and social connection that might overwise be missing in their new alien circumstances, away from their homeland.

Irvine Times: Loretta Doyle

Loretta, pictured above, said: “I’ve had a good life through judo. I now want this foundation to give to others what judo has given to me - to share the benefits that judo can provide with those who are disadvantaged in life for whatever reason their age, poverty, illness, physical or mental incapacity.”

"I don’t judge people by their poor circumstances or lifestyle.

"Judo is a superb alternative for issues such as substance abuse, gambling, or where there is potential to be drawn into criminality and a new approach is needed.

"I want to raise money to pay to introduce people to judo so that their lives can be enriched by participating in our sport free of charge in the same way as my life was enhanced from my earliest formative years.”

Loretta won the under-52kg event at the 1982 World Judo Championships, and the under-56 kg event at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

She also won European Judo Championships titles in 1983 and 1992. She missed out on the 1992 Olympics after discovering she was pregnant.