A FORMER hotel and fine dining restaurant in Greenock's west end is playing host to film crews from TV show Waterloo Road.

The Lindores Manor, in Newark Street, has not been in use since 2009 but bosses behind the hit BBC drama - which recently moved into the old Greenock Academy nearby - have swooped to use the imposing building as a location for a series of scenes.

Camera crews will also be shooting scenes at the nearby three-star Tontine Hotel as it also prepares to feature on the show.

Joe Nelis, the owner of both properties, is excited about the move.

Mr Nelis told the Tele: "We are delighted Lindores is being used and as far as we know there will be a range of different scenes shot there.

"They have done some decorating and other things to the building. It is leased until the end of this year and then from there it will depend on the scripts whether the lease is renewed.

"But we are delighted they will be filming both there and at the Tontine." Lindores Manor is a B-listed Victorian villa set in its own landscaped grounds in the west end of Greenock.

It was designed and built by the famous Lyle family, half of the famous Tate & Lyle sugar refiners, who were among the most successful entrepreneurs in the town's industrial heyday.

Show makers nearly pulled out of using it - because they thought it may have been too plush.

Mr Nelis said: "At first they thought it was too grand for the storyline, but they then changed their mind.

"We're happy it's being used as it was last open as a restaurant and hotel two-and-a-half years ago." Show makers officially took over the property on 1 April, when filming also began at Madeira Street.

Meanwhile former Waterloo Road and Celebrity Big Brother star Lucien Laviscount, aka Jonah Kirby in the popular drama, was a star guest at the Tele's sister station Your Radio last week.

The 19-year-old star, who is now embarking on a music career, said his former colleagues are 'delighted' with the relocation to Greenock.

DJ Stephen Quinn, who interviewed the actor turned singer, said: "He said the stars of Waterloo Road all love Greenock and that they love the change of scenery and couldn't say a bad word about it."