A LONG-STANDING Greenock fast food restaurant has shut down ahead of the opening of a new-build replacement in Port Glasgow.

The shutters came down on Burger King in West Blackhall Street for the final time on Friday.

It comes as the company prepares to open a brand new drive-through and sit-in restaurant on the former Clydeport filling station site in the Port.

The Burger King sign in Greenock was taken down on Tuesday and contractors began stripping out equipment and furnishings from inside the unit.

A notice on the door advised that the outlet had stopped trading and thanked customers.

In May last year, the Tele told how the West Blackhall Street fast food outlet would close to make way for the Port drive-through.

BK bosses later confirmed that all existing members of staff would transfer to the new restaurant, along with 50 additional employees who are being taken on.

Finishing touches were being made at the Port site, just off the busy A8, ahead of its imminent opening.

The Telegraph revealed three years ago how Burger King were eyeing up the prime site, which has been empty since the former Esso garage shut down in 2011 after it was deemed to be ‘no longer financially viable’.

Bosses from the fast food chain are keen to capitalise on the ongoing redevelopment of the Port, including the multi-million pound retail park extension next door.

Next and Boots will soon join the likes of newly-opened M&S and Poundworld at the shopping park.

The Tele contacted Burger King representatives for a comment about the Greenock closure and the opening of the Port Glasgow drive-through but there was no response as we went to press.