GALASHIELS-born sculptress Angela Hunter took centre stage at a unique ceremony on Saturday.

Former Academy student Angela, who has a studio in Innerleithen, was in Greenock for the official unveiling of her latest work – a poignant memorial to the victims of one of the bloodiest episodes in Scotland’s social history.

Her bronze depiction of hands clasped within a ring is a tribute to the eight people who died during riots in the Inverclyde town nearly 200 years ago.

The so-called Radical War saw widespread strikes in west and central Scotland by workers impoverished by economic downturn.

The unrest spilled into Greenock on April 20, 1820 when a party of these dissidents was being escorted to the town’s jail by militia set up to crush the movement.

Locals took to the streets in protest and, on their way back from the jail, the militia responded to insults and stone throwing by opening fire – killing eight people and wounding 10 others. The crowd rioted and freed five prisoners.

The youngest of the victims was eight years old and the oldest was 65 and it is their hands, clasped in solidarity, which are symbolised in Angela’s sculpture, mounted on a sandstone plinth.

“It was a great privilege to be asked to shed some light on a part of Scotland’s secret history which we were never taught at school,” said Angela after the memorial was unveiled by Greenock Provost Robert Moran.

Anegela said: “I am delighted with the way to has turned out.”

Joining Angie at the ceremony was landscape designer James Gordon from Broughton who designed a wall bearing the names of the dead which forms part of the memorial.