INVERCLYDE Council bosses hope to help restore TS Queen Mary to her former glory following a visit to the ship at James Watt Dock.

A £2 million appeal has been launched to refurbish the iconic vessel, which was rescued by charity Friends of Queen Mary and recently brought back to the River Clyde from the south of England.

Actor Robbie Coltrane is heading the campaign, which would involve doing all of the restoration in Inverclyde, creating work for apprentices and safeguarding other jobs.

Council leader Stephen McCabe went on board with the council’s head of regeneration and planning, Stuart Jamieson, and they were impressed with the charity’s ambitions.

They met Iain Sim, secretary and a trustee of the charity, to discuss how the council could contribute to the restoration.

Councillor McCabe said: “We explored how the council might support the restoration project, and at the same time, maximise the employment opportunities for local companies and people.

“It was a useful and constructive initial discussion, and officials will now arrange a follow-up meeting to look in more detail at the possibilities for us working together. The TS Queen Mary is remembered very fondly by many people in Inverclyde and it would be great if we could play a part in restoring her to her former glory.”

The world’s last Clyde-built turbine steamship was withdrawn from service in 1977, and towed 700 miles to the dock last month.

Mr Sim says that, initially, £150,000 is needed to move Queen Mary from her current position into adjacent Garvel Clyde drydock, owned by Dales Marine.

He said: “We have £30,000 and need another £120,000 to take her into drydock for various jobs before bringing her back out to James Watt Dock and raising the rest of the money for complete refurbishing.

“The drydock work will include a total powerwash, replacing steel below the waterline, repainting from top to bottom and pulling out redundant cabling.”

No contract has been awarded yet for the entire refurbishment, and Mr Sim could not say at this stage if it would be done at Garvel Clyde.

To donate to the appeal fund, visit www.tsqueenmary.org.uk