THE creator of a hit BBC sitcom says Greenock Sheriff Court provided the perfect location to film some key scenes.

Writer Joe Hullait, the man behind the BBC Scotland comedy series Scot Squad, says the cells at the court were used to shoot scenes for the latest series.

The programme-makers aren’t allowed to film in real police cells so the court acts as a suitable stand-in.

Joe said: “We’ve filmed there over the past three series.

“It’s quite a bleak place but it looks very authentic.

“We wanted to create the feeling that people were in the cells, so we had crew members making noise by banging on the walls.”

Joe, whose mum is from Greenock and whose gran lives in Gourock, says the Telegraph provides him with ideas for the show.

He added: “I always read a copy of my granny’s Tele when I visit — I love the paper.

“The Tele provides some inspiration for the show.

“I always make notes on my phone so that if I’m reading a national or a local paper and there is a nugget of an idea, I can remember it.

“Often people will say to me that the stories are unbelievable — but it’s often something that has been reported in the paper.”

Joe, 29, who lives in London, says another local venue has a special place in his heart.

He said: “I love the West Station Cafe and while the crew are setting up, I often head there to get some ice-cream.

“It’s really good.”

Joe revealed that fans of Scot Squad will not be disappointed with the latest series of the hilarious show, which starts on Wednesday.

He said: “We have brilliant new characters for the fourth series, so there will be the same laughs but with new characters.”