A scheme designed to offer Syrian refugees a fresh start away from their war-torn homeland has backfired after two families said the Scottish island they were sent to is "full of old people waiting to die" and they would rather be in Glasgow or Manchester.

The refugees praised the people of Scotland and said they had been made welcome on the Isle of Bute, but also complained that they were unable to find work and said they felt ashamed that they had to rely on charity.

Abd, a 42-year-old father of four, said: “I feel like I have one option now, to die here. Only die here, nothing else.”

The families said they felt isolated, were struggling to learn English and there was nothing to do on the island in the Firth of Clyde.