KIND-HEARTED Irvine residents donated more than £5,000 to help former service personnel during the annual Remembrance appeal, it's been revealed.

Members of the town's Seagate Rotary Club were told of the success of the annual PoppyScotland appeal, which is organised by the club, at their latest meeting.

The club organised collections during November at the town's Tesco and Sainsbury's supermarkets.

The club's latest meeting on Monday, January 15 was also told that a further £2,000 had been raised for the Seagate Rotary local charity fund from the display of locally-decorated Christmas trees at The Portal in the town.

A club spokesperson said: "The winner of the best decorated tree, as chosen by the public, was Dreghorn Primary School, followed by Irvine Lasses Burns Club and Irvine Sub Aqua Club.

"Thanks are due to everyone who sponsored the trees."

The guest speaker at the club's latest meeting was Seagate member David Wordsworth, who spoke about his career as an architect.

Starting from his days at Dundee University, David charted his experiences through private practice and local authority posts to his eventual retirement to the golf course.

He answered questions on modular buildings, schools, refurbishments, suspect concrete and cemeteries.

A vote of thanks was proposed by Fiona Lee.