A UKRAINIAN refugee rebuilding her life here while her sons fight on the frontline has thanked the people of Inverclyde for taking her to their hearts.

A year on from the Russian invasion Marina Gorbunova told the Tele that her spirits have been lifted by the love she has felt since moving into the area seven months ago.

The 55-year-old was forced to flee the under-siege city of Mykolaiv - where she had led a humanitarian effort - as it was reduced to rubble.

From her new home in Inverclyde she inspired a fundraising campaign with the Gourock Rotary, sending thousands of pounds home to help keep children in the region safe.

Marina faces an uncertain future but is meantime throwing herself into art, music and the local community.

The brave mum, who now lives in a flat in Greenock, said: "I want to thank the people of Inverclyde from the bottom of my heart.

"I feel the Ukrainian and the Scottish people have the same brave hearts.

"There are many differences, like the climate, but we are the same.

"I have felt so welcome and felt such kindness here, in so many ways. "

Marina faces daily torment over her three sons as they fight for their country, and her daughter who is also still in Ukraine.

She added: "My anxiety for my sons' lives at the front will not subside until the end of the war.

"But my desire to be of service to my Mykolaiv and now my Inverclyde keeps me in balance.

"I just keep busy every day, that is the only way.

"Living in Inverclyde helps, as I am from a port and Inverclyde is by the water.

"No other place could have saved, soothed and healed my wounds like this."

As the grim milestone of 12 months of conflict is reached Marina says she is 'so proud' of her children.

She said: "They are still there in Ukraine, they are doing such great work.

"But it has been a whole year of war.

"It is unbelievable that this horror is still going on in the twenty-first century."

In the first months of the war Marina, who ran her own financial company, found herself organising a lifesaving effort to try to help families in her home city while trying to get her employees out safe at the same time.

Marina came to live here in July with a sponsor and has carved out a role in the community.

As a rotarian in Ukraine she joined the Gourock Rotary Club and together they launched a fundraising campaign, sending £4,000 to her home city.

Through her friendship with local woman Alison McNeill she has joined a choir.

She said: "I am very grateful for the help of Gourock Rotary for organising the collection for the Ukrainian children.

"They have joined with Rotary Club Mykolaiv to save the children from a city that has no heating or electricity.

"With the funds raised, children have been taken to safety, been provided with comfortable accommodation, food and the opportunity to continue their education online."

As well as her work with the rotary Marina has been supported by Rig Arts, and takes part in classes with tutor Jim Strachan.

Marina is also spending time with other Ukrainian families and encouraging some of the children to take up art.

This includes Matvei Kulinich, 10, and Solomiya Heigorova, six, both pupils at Ardgowan Primary, who fled Kyiv with their mothers following the invasion.

She says she wants to thank Inverclyde health and social care partnership, other new Scots and the community care forum Your Voice, as well as local export company PG Paper for their help.