'No Island scouts at anti-abortion demo' says association

The Island's Scouts have moved to distance themselves from an anti-abortion demonstration at the weekend.

The chairman of the Isle of Man Scouts Association James Kite says despite reports in the media, no Island cubs or scouts took part in the march along Douglas Prom.

On Sunday, UK charity Life organised the event which saw more than 50 people walk the length of the seafront.

But uniformed scout leaders and children weren't from the Isle of Man, according to the association.

Mr Kite says there was no official presence from the Island's Scouts Association - which maintains strict neutrality on political issues.

He says no group on the island wears purple neckerchiefs, which were worn by some of the attendees.

He says the Island's groups are now shut for the summer period, and anyone wearing uniforms at the demonstration must have been from a visiting group - but Manx scouts don't know who that may have been or where they were from.

And responding to criticism on social media, Mr Kite says people should think carefully and check their facts before posting.