VISITORS will be knocking on the doors of iconic buildings and hidden gems throughout Inverclyde thanks to the return of a popular annual event.

Doors Open Day 2016 is back next month and will see the welcome mat rolled out across the district at almost 40 venues, including historic churches and modern multi-million pound shipbuilding sheds.

This year’s jam-packed event, which runs on Saturday September 10 and Sunday 11, spans from Quarriers Village to Wemyss Bay and Skelmorlie.

A peek behind the scenes of Greenock’s historic Municipal Buildings, Gateside Prison and the Beacon Arts Centre are all included in the programme, as well as tours of the stunning Sir Gabriel Wood’s Mariners Home, Port Glasgow Fire Station, the new St John’s Primary, Old Gourock and Ashton Church, and Kilmacolm Old Kirk.

More than 4,000 people enjoyed Doors Open Day last year and organisers are hoping for another huge turnout.

Provost of Inverclyde, Robert Moran, helped launch the event at the newly-refurbished Wemyss Bay railway station, which adorns the cover of this year’s free pocket guide.

Mr Moran said: “Doors Open Days provides local people and visitors to Inverclyde an opportunity to go behind the scenes of some of the area’s interesting and historical venues.

“There is something for all the family to enjoy and I would encourage everyone to get out and about to learn more about Inverclyde’s magnificent heritage.”

One of the busiest attractions last year was Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow, where guests were taken on guided tours of the old fabrication sheds.

They have now been demolished and replaced with new state-of-the-art facilities at a cost of just under £20 million, and bosses at the company — which has been transformed since being rescued by Scottish entrepreneur Jim McColl two years ago — are opening up the Newark site once again.

Greenock Sheriff Court, Inverclyde Council’s Ingleston recycling centre, the Dutch Gable House and all of the Lyle Kirk churches are also included.

There will be five tours run by the Inverclyde Tourist Group, and for the first time this year there will be a children’s treasure hunt, inspired by Captain Kidd, and arts and crafts at the McLean Museum.

Bob Webster, of the local tourist group, said: “We are running four bus tours and one walking tour.

“People can discover things they didn’t know about our towns.”

There will be bus tours of Port Glasgow and Kilmacolm, Greenock, Gourock, Inverclyde’s historical railway stations, and a walking tour of Greenock town centre.

Guided walks will also take place around Quarriers Village and the Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Post Museum in Skelmorlie.

Greg Beecroft, a member of the Friends of Wemyss Bay Station, said: “We’re very pleased to support the open day. It’s a good opportunity to encourage visitors to come here.”

For full details visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk or www.inverclyde.gov.uk/events to download the programme.

A free booklet is also available in various locations throughout the district, including in local libraries.