GREENOCK played a starring role at the annual Tartan Day event in New York.

A group of friends with links to the town turned out for the 2018 parade on the streets of the Big Apple following a week of celebrations commemorating the link between Scotland and America.

As well as the New Yorkers with family links to the area, local couple Rachael and Ross McWilliams, who live in Greenock, and Anne Cameron Dickie, of Largs, were also among the huge crowds.

The group later bumped into Martin McAdam, chief executive of the Ardgowan Distillery development in Inverkip, and former Tele journalist and Kilmacolm resident Paul English, who was there covering the event for national media outlets.

Elaine Swiontak is the daughter of Greenock ex-pats Stewart and Ellen Holmes who emigrated to Brooklyn.

She said: "Our parents came to the States back in the early 1960s.

"My sister was born in Greenock, so were some of the others, and came here when she was four.

"Most of our parents came here without other family so we all became a family.

"As kids we spent every holiday together, weekends, went to school together - even when some moved away.

"We now know each other's families here and in Greenock.

"The parade is one day where we all get together for the parade and then usually dinner and drinks after.

"It's a day we really all look forward to."

Joining Elaine were Sharon Boyd, daughter of Mima and the late Hugh Boyd of Bayville, NY, Jessica Nelson, Mr and Mrs Boyd's granddaughter, and Sandra Valsecchi and Alison Guerriero, daughters of Jim and the late Marie McNelis of Bayville.

They were among more than 30,000 spectators who turned out for the parade where Scottish singer KT Tunstall was the grand marshal this year.

Elaine said: "Unfortunately not everyone in our group is in the picture but we all had a great day showing off our Scottish pride."