A REFUGEE family who have made Inverclyde their home after escaping a war zone say their new life in Greenock is 'incredible'.

Mohammad Mashwani, his wife and their three children - Sana, 11, Ikram, seven, and Abdul Basit, three - left Afghanistan for Greenock in 2017 and their lives have been transformed.

Mr Mashwani has now opened his own shop and his children are thriving at school and nursery.

From 2010 to 2014, Mohammad worked as a translator and interpreter for the British army.

As conditions in the war-torn country deteriorated, he made the decision to leave his homeland to make life safer for his family.

The Mashwanis were assisted by Inverclyde Council in settling into their home - and four years later, they're very happy as 'new Scots' in their community.

Mohammad, 30, said: "It wasn't safe for us in Afghanistan and we had to leave.

"We now have a settlement visa and will apply for indefinite leave to remain status.

"Inverclyde Council has been very supportive and our integration co-ordinator Jim Laird has been very helpful.

"In our first four months in Inverclyde, Jim helped me to set up a bank account, showed me how to deal with utility bills and helped me get everything organised."

Mohammad and his family had planned to visit family in Afghanistan last year but had to shelve those plans due to coronavirus.

The dad-of-three says he also lost a family member and some relatives were very ill with Covid-19.

He said: "It was very difficult not being able to get out to see our family.

"That was definitely the most challenging part of the pandemic for us."

Mohammad praised the support he has had from Inverclyde Council and Ardgowan Medical Practice since the world changed in March 2020.

He was helped with how and where to get his vaccine and says he always felt his family were safe.

Businessman Mohammad even managed to create a positive from the pandemic by setting up his own shop.

He opened the convenience store - named after his daughter Sana - last September.

Mohammad said: "My wife really encouraged me to do it.

"I like to be able to work and to feed my children.

"My brother Najeeb works part-time in the shop with me.

"I have great support from Booker wholesalers and offer great prices.

"There is a bit of competition in the area but we don't listen and we get on with our job."

Mohammad's children Sana, Ikram and Abdul Basit, have settled in well and made a lot of friends in their community.

Sana and Ikram go to Whinhill Primary and Abdul Basit attends a local nursery.

Sana says she wants to be a doctor when she grows up.

She said: "I really enjoy school and I'm house captain.

"I would love to be a doctor because I like helping people to feel better.

"Our life here is great.

"We went to the fair and we've also been to Lunderston Bay, Wellpark and Battery Park.

"I even had my first Starbucks and it was amazing."

Mohammad says he has friends in other parts of the UK who want him to move his family near to them - but he's no doubt where his heart lies.

He added: "I have a lot of friends in Manchester and people have tried to persuade me to go there but my children have settled in here in Inverclyde and they are happy.

"The most important thing to me is my wife and family.

"I've built a shop and a business in very difficult times.

"Life here is incredible.

"This is definitely our home now."

The council currently supports five Afghan families in Inverclyde.

Due to the recent withdrawal of Nato forces from Afghanistan, the UK Government is restarting the Afghan Resettlement Scheme and the council has again agreed to assist.

This will bring at least another 12 Afghan families to the district.

Councillor Robert Moran, Inverclyde’s convener of health and social care, said: "Our resettlement scheme has gone incredibly well and we’re delighted to see our ‘new Scots’ enjoying life here in Inverclyde.

"The fact that we’ve helped almost 40 families resettle here, and are committed to supporting more, is testament to the excellent work of council and HSCP staff in supporting them - but is in no small part down to the warm welcome they've received from local people.

"It really does illustrate the caring, compassionate and welcoming place that Inverclyde is and I wish all our new Scots continued health and happiness."