A British prime minister has finally acknowledged the Clydebank Blitz for the first time - 78 years after the devastation killed hundreds of people.

Theresa May recognised the "aerial bombardment" - without mentioning Clydebank - in response to a question from the town's MP, Martin Docherty-Hughes during prime minister's questions today.

In 2016 the MP was the first to secure an adjournment debate on the Blitz in the House of Commons for the 75th anniversary where he read out all 528 names of those identified deaths.

That was the first time a UK minister acknowledged the Nazi attack. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also visited the mass grave in Clydebank for the anniversary in 2016.

He also brought it up in the chamber two weeks ago ahead of the anniversary, marked in the town at the weekend and again today.

During PMQs he asked: "Today is the 78th anniversary of proportionally the worst aerial bombardment in the history of the United Kingdom, the Clydebank Blitz, and I am sure the prime minister will wish to be the first ever British prime minister to note it."

Mrs May replied: "I recognise the point the honourable gentleman made about the aerial bombardment all those many years ago and the impact that had on the local community."

Read more: Clydebank Blitz: Special feature remembering 528 Bankies who died

Mr Docherty-Hughes has been critical of the silencing for years of any debate or mention of the Blitz and its devastation wrought upon the town, and urged it to see greater acknowledgement within Scotland's history.

The MP also used his question to raise the subject of the continued detention of Dumbarton resident Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been locked up in India for 500 days, as of next Monday.

He said: "On Monday my constituent Jagtar Singh Johal will have been incarcerated for 500 days without trial and has suffered trial by media—sanctioned, some would say, by the Indian state.

"I appreciate that ministers are working very hard, but can the prime minister now say this to their own foreign secretary: no guilt has yet been established and there has been no trial, so why will ministers not meet with myself as the constituency MP and the family to hear what impact this incarceration is having on them?"

The PM, with Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond looking on, said: "On the specific case, ministers are dealing with this. They have been actively involved in it. Obviously the foreign secretary has heard the honourable gentleman’s request for a specific meeting.

"I believe one of the ministers is dealing with this case and will, I am sure, be pleased to meet with him."