CLYDEBANK’S Citizen of the Year has spoken of the sombre mood and heartache in Orlando in the hours since 49 people were murdered at a gay club.

Jennifer McGregor has been on holiday with her boyfriend at Walt Disney World for two weeks and said security has been tightened as the entire community mourns the loss of life – the worst mass murder in modern American history.

The 22-year-old from Dalmuir, who runs Crohnie Clothing and has been blogging during her trip about the challenges of her Crohn’s Disease while on holiday, told the Post the Sunday’s attack has made the trip “surreal”.

It followed another tragedy in Orlando on Friday, when There was also a shooting nearby of former The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie was shot dead while she was on stage.

As part of the increased security, guards used hand-held detectors at Hollywood Studios and questioned whether Jennifer’s partner Stuart McAlister had a gun when his belt buckle set it off.

Jennifer said: “We weren’t out clubbing or anything, but did call our families on Sunday morning and they were really worried and always tell us to be safe now.

“We only heard on Monday that security has officially been tightened here on the news – they’ve had the attack on the news constantly here.

“There’s a lot of solidarity here too from the Instagram #orlando, with even our Uber driver saying how they’ll grieve as a community. Rainbow flags are at half mast or down completely.

“It isn’t as loud now as it was, the atmosphere is more sombre, even though there are more people arriving since schools have stopped for summer.”

Jennifer, who was named West Dunbartonshire’s Citizen of the Year in April for her work developing bespoke clothing for people with health challenges, said she also learned nightclub killer Omar Mateen scouted Disney Springs as a potential target the day they visited.

“It’s terrifying to know we were so close to such a scary man,” she said.

Despite being a tourist, Jennifer said Floridians are very concerned and protective of them.

“We feel like the Floridians are very protective towards us and are quick to reassure us we’ll be okay, as I told some workers last night I was a bit scared since the shootings were so close,” she added.

Glasgow man and Orlando resident Russell Walker worked regularly at the Pulse nightclub – scene of the massacre – but was off thaton the night of the attack.

He said: “I emigrated here in 2006 and I have been part of the Orlando LGBT community since then. Since the shootings, I’ve been involved in getting our communities organised so we can come together and mourn together.

“The whole city is coming together and definitely the LGBT community is stronger than ever.

“We will not be broken by this and we will not be beaten.”

Orlando resident David Reilly, from Clydebank, said: “The mood around Orlando is sombre, but with a great willingness to come together and find ways to help each other.

“We do feel very cautious and fearful of visiting places where large crowds will be and were horrified to find out we were at one of the places the shooter ‘cased’ before deciding on the nightclub.

“The people of Orlando are knitting together and it seems this will make them stronger rather than divide. For our part, we almost knew it was inevitable that a place with so much happiness and popularity would be a target at some point. Going forward, we will all be that bit more careful and do what we can to keep our surroundings as safe as possible.”

MSPs held a moment of silence on Tuesday to honour the victims of the attack, following candlelight vigils held in Glasgow’s George Square and around the world on Monday.

Glasgow native and now Orlando resident Russell Walker worked regularly at the Pulse nightclub – scene of the massacre – but was off thaton the night of the attack.

He said: “I emigrated here in 2006 and I have been part of the Orlando LGBT community since then. Since the shootings,I’ve been involved in getting our communities organised so we can come together and mourn together.

“The whole city is coming together and definitely the LGBT community is stronger than ever.

“We will not be broken by this and we will not be beaten.”