The youngsters handed over a petition with nearly 2,000 signatures calling on West Dunbartonshire Council to reconsider the decision to shut the centre as part of sweeping budget cuts aimed at plugging a £17million gap.

The centre on the banks of Loch Lomond is leased to the council and gives school children in the area a chance to try outdoor activies such as abseiling, kayaking and mountain biking.

The council announced last month that the centre will close in June to save £110,000, sparking a community battle to save the facility.

Among those handing over the petition to the council's head of education Terry Lanagan and council leader Councillor Martin Rooney were Aaron Belkevitz and his younger brother Jack.

Aaron's mum, Carla, said Aaron's trip to the centre had been a great experience and confidence booster which his younger brother would miss out on.

She said: "Today we're making it about the children. It's been half a political battle and half a community battle up until this point but today it's about the children and what they are missing out on.

"Aaron had a great time at Ardlui, it's a great thing for them to do and it's a great boost of confidence for them. Now his younger brother won't get that because of these cuts."

She added: "The children have recently had their school up for closure, the library up for closure, their school day was being cut. We're absolutely sick to death of fighting for the services for our young people.

"The children are under attack by the council and it's disgusting."

The family was part of a group of around a dozen campaigners who took the petition to the council headquarters at Garshake on Wednesday.

Mr Lanagan accepted a copy of the petition told the group: "We're happy to receive this on behalf of the council. We'll see what happens. I'm still hopeful we'll find someone to take over the centre."

Questioned if Lockerbie was one of the areas children could be sent to for outdoor education in the future, Mr Lanagan said other centres were available such as Adrentinny, in Argyll.

He added: "The problem is the difficulty that we are facing with the council's financial situation."

Councillor Rooney said: "We'll look at the petition but the plans are still in place to dispose of the site. What we are interested in is what the children get. The children will get the same outdoor education experience if another outdoor provider takes over Ardlui."

Both men said that the council was trying to protect schools as much as possible and was investing in the school estate in some areas. Cllr Rooney denied that Dalmuir Primary School had ever been considered for closure.

The campaigners said their fight for Ardlui was not over yet. Carla added: "We wouldn't be here today if we didn't think the decision could change. We've already saved a school, a library and stopped the school hours cuts. We've fought three battles and we're not in the habit of losing."