Politicians in East Renfrewshire put their differences aside as they showed support for a special event that aimed to bring communities together.

The Great Get Together was inspired by the late Labour MP Jo Cox, who was killed in her Yorkshire constituency in June last year.

On the first anniversary of her death, people across Britain were encouraged to join forces for local events that would foster community spirit.

And among those to respond was Councillor Paul O’Kane, who decided to get East Renfrewshire’s politicians involved.

Cllr O’Kane, who is the Labour member for Newton Mearns North and Neilston, said: “I heard about the Great Get Together, which saw thousands of events being organised around the UK, and I wanted to do something, so I put the feelers out and asked ‘who wants to get together for a game of rounders for Jo?’ “We went out to Rouken Glen and had a picnic and a couple of games.

“There was a lot of cross-party mixing. All of the General Election candidates turned out, as well as myself and some other councillors.

“Everyone brought family and friends along, so it was really nice.

“The election was quite intense but it was nice to see a more human side to everyone and to try to align ourselves with some of the values that Jo was so passionate about.”

Blair McDougall and Kirsten Oswald, who were the General Election candidates in East Renfrewshire for Labour and the SNP respectively, were team captains.

And, while there were some impressive performances as the rounders got under way, Cllr O’Kane said the result was not the main concern.

He added: “Blair had a few home runs and he would probably tell you that his team won but I don’t think anyone was really keeping any eye on the score.

“It was a lovely day. We were very lucky with the weather and I think it really did encourage us to be more community spirited - to put others first and not to get too bogged down with the politics.”

Mum-of-two Mrs Cox, 41, was shot and stabbed to death in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on June 16 last year - a week before the EU referendum vote took place.

In November, 53-year-old Thomas Mair was jailed for life after being found guilty of her murder.

Mrs Cox, MP for Batley and Spen, had been on her way to a constituency surgery when she was set upon in front of two of her assistants and shocked constituents.

Mair shot her with a sawn-off rifle and stabbed her with a dagger, as well as turning on 78-year-old Bernard Kenny, who tried to stop him.

A jury found Mair guilty of having a firearm with intent, causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Kenny and having a dagger.

The judge gave him a whole life tariff, saying he was likely to spend the rest of his days in jail.

He said the offence was so exceptional that Mair could only be released by a secretary of state.

The judge described Mrs Cox as “a wonderful mother, daughter, sister, partner and companion.”