LOCAL writer and storyteller Paul Bristow is firing the imagination of young people with historic folk tales about Inverclyde.

Paul is working alongside pupils from Inverkip Primary and young people from Proud2Care and Your Voice, to explore traditional tales and how to retell and reinterpret them.

The stories will then be shared with newly created comic artwork and music at a storytelling event.

The 'Tales of the Oak' event will be held at the Beacon Arts Centre during the upcoming Galoshans Festival.

Paul said: "I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in sharing and telling stories locally and beyond for over twenty years now.

"When we started doing that, it was always about this idea of creating a different mythology for Inverclyde and moving past our industrial history into other times and places.

"I think it’s just as important to do that today, to tell different stories, to imagine and see the area differently.

“There’s lots of stories people are familiar with, like the Port Glasgow Mermaid, Greenock Catman and Auld Dunrod, but in every group there’s always someone who hasn’t heard them before.

"It is in telling them, adapting them, adding to them, that we keep these stories alive and in circulation.”

As well as the more traditional tales, other stories have been cropping up.

Paul said: "I’ve enjoyed hearing new stories and urban legends developing.

"For example, the quite sad and serious ‘escaped’ snake story from the start of the year has definitely made an impact on people, and so it’s already finding a life of its own and being retold in different ways – not always true of course.

"But this is a storytelling project, not a history project, so I think that’s okay.”

Class P7/6 at Inverkip Primary have been relishing their comic-creating sessions with Paul in their school.

Pupil Harris Kyle, 10, said: "I've always wanted to learn how to draw better and I was really excited knowing were were working this project."

Class teacher Rhona Findlay said: "They have been so excited and looking forward to creating their own comic."

A spokesperson Proud2Care, a group of care experienced young people, said: “Being part of this project has been a great opportunity for us all to gather our creative minds and use them to create our new fantastic comics.

"We’ve enjoyed learning about comics, learning and sharing local stories and drawing and even recording our stories together.”

Tales of the Oak will be performed at The Beacon on Thursday October 28 from 6-7pm.

The event is free but ticketed and part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2021 and supported by TRACS – Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland.