A CALL has today been made for Inverclyde to create a festival to honour Greenock-born inventor James Watt.

The area’s MSP Stuart McMillan says it should be introduced in time for 2019, to mark the 200th anniversary of Watt’s death.

He believes it is time the area had its own event to properly celebrate Watt, who died in 1819 at the age of 83, and his achievements.

Mr McMillan said: “Thanks to his vast improvements to the steam engine, human beings became masters of power generation and ultimately changed the world.

“The separate condenser changed the steam engine from a crude and inefficient machine into one that became the mainstay of the industrial revolution.

“Watt’s condenser tripled the efficiency of the steam engine, and that meant that mill or mine owners got three times more mechanical work for every tonne of coal they had to buy.”

There is a statue of Watt in Greenock but MSP Mr McMillan believes there is plenty of scope for much more celebration of his life and work.

He said: “Several UK-wide locations plan to recognise the bicentenary of his death – including Edinburgh, Birmingham and Glasgow – yet there exists no annual celebration in the town of his birth.

“A week-long festival should be pursued here.

“This is the least we can do to celebrate the fantastic legacy of one of the greatest inventors of the Enlightenment.

“The possibilities for the festival are endless - from science, technology, engineering and maths workshops in schools, to live music, storytelling and artist and designer showcases.

“The James Watt Festival could welcome locals and visitors to celebrate and engage with Inverclyde’s rich and colourful historical roots – with the legacy of our most famous son at the centre."