WEDDING ceremonies in Inverclyde have been put on hold - because of a hitch with the registry office.

Local registrars have stopped taking bookings from the autumn onwards after it was discovered that the new Inverclyde Council marriage venue will not be ready in time.

The current registry office in Greenock’s West Stewart Street will shut in October with ceremonies due to switch to the former district court within the Municipal Buildings.

But council officials say the £577,000 renovation of the ornate old law room is now way behind schedule.

It was supposed to be ready by ‘spring/summer’ but now won’t be finished until next year.

Renovation of the courtroom - which is within the listed town buildings - is said to be more difficult than originally suspected and a £65,000 grant has been secured from Historic Environment Scotland for roof repairs.

In a report, the council’s chief financial officer Alan Puckrin said: “The works to the district court are more extensive than originally thought and this will impact on costs and timescales meaning that there is going to be a period where the council does not have a facility for holding wedding ceremonies within its estate.

“Registrars have not been taking bookings for weddings in council premises beyond October 1, 2017 as they cannot guarantee that a facility will be available.

“Registrars can however continue to conduct ceremonies outwith Inverclyde Council premises.”

Registrars here officiate at around 80 weddings a year and in 2016 half of those were held in the registry office.

Officials have ruled out keeping the West Stewart Street building open beyond October because it is too costly.

But the local authority is legally-bound to have its own venue where couples can tie the knot and officials are proposing to use the Provost’s Room within the Municipal Buildings as a temporary measure.

The move could however come at a cost to soon-to-be newlyweds.

Mr Puckrin said: “Whilst the physical work to the district court and the operational review is ongoing officers would recommend that the Provost’s Room be used for small weddings at selected times.

“This would necessitate a review of charges given both the quality of the offering and to reflect the extra costs which would be incurred to manage public access and set up the facility for a wedding.”