People in Largs and Millport are being encouraged to mark World Porridge Day by throwing a Porridge Party in aid of Mary’s Meals.

The charity, which feeds more than 1.5 million children around the world every school day, is asking locals to get together with friends, family, colleagues or schoolmates during the month of October to enjoy a bowl of porridge and raise funds to support its life-changing work.

World Porridge Day is supported by Masterchef: The Professionals winner Gary Maclean, who said: “A simple bowl of porridge can help chronically hungry children get an education and lift themselves out of poverty. I work in a college and am passionate about helping young people realise their potential, so the work of Mary’s Meals is very close to my heart.

“I hope that peopl will throw their own Porridge Parties this October and help us to reach even more hungry children around the world.”

Mary’s Meals sets up school feeding programmes in some of the world’s poorest countries. The food attracts children into the classroom, where they receive an education that can, in the future, be their ladder out of poverty.

To find out more about World Porridge Day, please visit worldporridgeday.com