A UKULELE playing prawn is just one of the eccentric characters who will show people round Greenock as part of a surreal musical walking tour.

The offbeat ‘Beyond the Green Oak’ tour, which begins next month, will also feature self-styled diva Selkie Stick – a half woman, half seal who loves to sing and take selfies, plus a beatboxing Burns.

Led by guide Hector McMonigal and launched by the Beacon Arts Centre in partnership with Creative Scotland and Inverclyde Place Partnership, the unique tours aim to introduce people to the sites and highlights of Greenock town centre.

Award-winning artist and musician Louise Quinn came up with the tours and hopes people will embrace them.

She said: “A wee trip doon the watter to Greenock always gives me a slightly surreal feeling of being on holiday, even though it’s only half an hour away on the train! 

“I wanted to recreate this feeling for visitors whilst letting the residents see their home town through fresh eyes. I hope this tour will give the participants a smile, a song and a fondness for all things Greenock.”

Rikki Payne of Inverclyde Place Partnership hopes the tour attracts cruise ship passengers as well as other visitors to Greenock and local residents.

He said: “With the number of cruise ships in Greenock almost doubling in the next couple of years, it’s really important that we’re able to offer visitors something that shows Inverclyde as a vibrant and creative place. 

“But this tour isn’t just for tourists. The songs in the show are brilliant, irreverent observations about local life and attitudes. 

“I think local people will take them to heart and adopt these crazy characters into their lives.

“Beyond the Green Oak is colourful, fun and different. 

“It is certainly not your usual run of the mill tour – I mean we have a man dressed as a prawn playing the ukulele! 

“However we promise everyone involved will learn something about Greenock – although some facts may not necessarily be true!”

The tour also features folk music, R&B and DJs.

Beyond the Green Oak is part of a wider project – All Hands, a celebration of Inverclyde’s rich local heritage and strong cultural traditions. 

In addition to the walking tours there will be workshops in watercolour painting and free music performances in the Beacon Bistro. 

Tickets for the walking tours, which run between May and August and start at Ocean Terminal and end at the Beacon, cost £10 and £7 for concessions. To book, phone 723723.