DETECTIVES say they have mounted a major investigation to find the man who robbed a taxi driver at gunpoint in Larkfield.

The 58-year-old cabbie was left badly shaken after a man wearing a hood pointed a firearm at him and demanded money.

He handed over what he had - �22 - and the man fled.

The robbery happened in Fife Road near to Earnhill Road, where the driver had been sitting in his parked Volkswagen Passat at around 6.25am on Tuesday morning.

Detective Sergeant Mick Carr, of Greenock police office, said today: "For this man to be threatened with what appeared to be a firearm when merely doing his job is absolutely appalling.

"Extensive police inquiries are ongoing in the local area to trace the suspect and police are following a number of lines of inquiry in relation to this incident." Strathclyde Police have also confirmed that armed response unit searches carried in Sir Michael Street and Larkfield were connected to the robbery investigation.

Sir Michael Street was cordoned off at around 9.45pm on Tuesday as officers carried out their inquiries while officers searched two homes in Larkfield.

Detectives have also issued a more detailed description of the taxi driver's assailant.

Described as 5ft 8 tall, he was wearing a grey striped hooded top and white trainers and had a scarf covering his face.

DS Carr said: "It is imperative that we trace the man responsible and I would appeal to anyone who witnessed anyone acting suspiciously in or around the area of Fife Road, Greenock early on Tuesday morning to contact us as a matter of urgency.

"No matter how insignificant you feel the information is, please contact us, as it may well assist our inquiries." Anyone with information should contact Greenock police on 492500 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.