PILGRIMS making their way across Scotland ahead of the COP26 conference in Glasgow have been met by East Lothian’s MSP.

Paul McLennan welcomed those walking from northern Europe as they passed through North Berwick at the end of last week.

The politician described it as “humbling” to meet people making the trek in what he said was “our last chance to fix the climate emergency”.

Mr McLennan also mentioned his visits to Germany and said: “I’ve supported Scottish football teams and often it doesn’t end well but, in spite of that, I love Germany, I love Europe, and my heart broke when the UK voted for Brexit.”

He added: “I hope that we find a way back into Europe because I’m Scottish but I’m also European.”

One of the leading organisers of the pilgrimage, German IT specialist Jens Knölker, assured Mr McLennan that “the door is wide open for Scotland”.

A veteran of numerous pilgrimages dating back to 2015, Mr Knölker said: “This pilgrimage has been different.

“In 2018, we found people wanted to engage but sometimes they were hostile because their lives had already been impacted by the green agenda.

“In 2021, we are speaking to so many people who tell us: ‘You are right; you are heroes.’ That’s a big change among people, and we’re also getting more media coverage.

“Even when we passed by Torness, the police, while doing their duty to ensure the security of the nuclear plant, wished us well and told us our ideas were right.”

The pilgrims’ day ended with a barbecue organised by supporters of the recently inaugurated ‘Forth to Farne’ pilgrimage route.

This pathway from North Berwick to Lindisfarne revives a medieval tradition.

North Berwick parish priest Father Augustine Bobi accommodated the group at Our Lady Star of the Sea, blessing what lay ahead on the pilgrims’ journey and praying for a positive COP26 outcome.