A SCOTTISH charity set up almost 50 years ago to offer counselling to couples whose marriage is in trouble has relaunched with a wider remit.

Scottish Marriage Care is change its name to The Spark, offering support for people from a range of backgrounds and at different stages in 'virtually every type of relationship'.

The charity, which grew out of the Catholic Marriage Counselling Organisation, has long provided support for those from any faith background and none.

Chief Executive Stella Gibson said the new name reflected a wide range of other work carried out by the charity in Scotland, including support for young people undertaking apprenticeships who needed relationship guidance and work in schools and the community.

The service also provides telephone, online and face to face support for every stage in relationships, as well as support for new parents.

It also offers help to parents coping with teenagers and anti-violence and anti-sectarianism workshops.

Ms Gibson said the renaming reflected the range of the charity's work and its ability to make a difference..

"Our ability to form positive relationships touches all areas of our lives. We are focused on making relationship support as easy and accessible as possible.

The service will also provide relationship support to gay couples,.

"We think it's the right time to reflect these changes and developments in a new name and a new image," she said.

The charity has 18 regional centres across Scotland, and offers online counselling and a telephone helpline.