Yesterday afternoon's rally, organised by the Inverclyde Anti-Knife Group, drew hundreds of supporters, who marched along Greenock Esplanade to Battery Park.

They were also there to remember the victims of knife crime, including 34-year-old Damian Muir who was murdered in a knife attack in Greenock five years ago.

His father, anti-knife campaigner John Muir, 72, was one of the guiding spirits of yesterday's march.

Mr Muir has been a vocal campaigner for tougher knife sentences and has spoken at the Scottish Parliament in a bid to get MSPs to tighten up the law on blade culture.

Duncan Simpson, vice chairman of Inverclyde Anti-Knife Group, said anyone caught carrying a knife should automatically be remanded in custody until they are dealt with by the courts.

He added: "The walk went very well.

"We want the same tariffs that are in England and Wales, which is 25 years in prison for murder with a knife."

A "zero tolerance" crackdown on knife carrying in Scottish town and city centres came into force in April.

Under new guidelines, anyone caught with a knife will be prosecuted in front of a sheriff and jury and face up to four years in jail.