IBM is moving to a new �4.2m office block in Greenock - with guarantees being sought that no jobs will be lost.

Several hundred employees are expected to transfer from Spango Valley to a new office block in Pottery Street by the end of September.

It follows a company review of their facilities at Spango Valley, which have been scaled back radically in recent years after the ending of computer production.

IBM has already sold off its Spango Valley buildings and now rents them.

The contact centre known as 'the blue building' will remain at Spango Valley, handling various lines of business.

But the company will vacate an older building known as 'office block two' and will transfer the supply chain organisation operation to Pottery Street.

A few hundred employees will occupy a new �4.2 million office built by regeneration body Riverside Inverclyde at their Riverside Business Park.

IBM had explored various options for new premises, including looking outside of Inverclyde, but local management lobbied successfully at national level to stay in this area.

The news was welcomed by Inverclyde MP Iain McKenzie, who said he was seeking talks to discuss IBM's commitment to employment issues and their apprenticeship scheme, as well as their future presence in Inverclyde.

He said: "I will be meeting with the management team at IBM to discuss what the future holds for the company in Inverclyde. IBM have a long association with our community, and I hope to see that continue." IBM arrived in Inverclyde in 1951, starting production in leased premises in Battery Park, before moving to Spango Valley three years later.

Initially a manufacturing site, it made typewriters, printers and other office equipment before moving into the production of computer servers and laptops. The site moved away from manufacturing several years ago, and now provides a number of services to customers across the globe.

Inverclyde Council's Environment and Regeneration Convener, Councillor Michael McCormick, also welcomed the move to Pottery Street.

He said: "This is a welcome commitment to Inverclyde and to the quality accommodation we have at Riverside Business Park." An IBM spokeswoman said: "We are constantly monitoring and evaluating real estate options to match clients' needs."