Tartan day GOUROCK Pensioners hold a Tartan Day this afternoon from 2pm in the lounge of Riverside Gardens.

There will be haggis plus entertainment from the Clydeside Singers and Kenny Wilson from The Wherries.


Shop staff offer help to charities TEAM members at the Wilkinson store in Greenock are offering a friendly hand to community groups and charities who need support.

Under their Helping Hands initiative, the shop is looking for applications from local organisations who could do with some assistance.

Forms can be collected from the store and returned to its help desk.

Shop manager Paul Church said: “We’d like to hear from anyone who’s keen to make a difference — whether it’s a school that needs arts and crafts supplies or a dogs’ home that needs extra food and treats, we want to help.”
Praise for talented young musicians A PORT Glasgow councillor has heaped praised on young musicians after they won a prestigious award.

Inverclyde Schools Wind Orchestra were handed a Gold Plus prize at the Scottish Concert Band Festival finals at Perth Concert Hall.

Councillor Jim MacLeod said: “It never ceases to amaze me just how well our district does musically.

“It is down to musical directors, the many music teachers and the time and energy put in by our schools and children, duly supported by their parents.”
Caught with heroin A MAN has been fined after being caught in possession of heroin.

Gavin Brown, 37, had the Class A drug while at Greenock police office in October.

He appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court, represented by solicitor Gerry Keenan, to plead guilty.

Brown, of Cowal Drive in Linwood, was ordered to pay £100.


Help offered to ‘spring clean’ business skills BUSINESS owners in Inverclyde are being offered help to ‘spring clean’ their skills.

The local Business Gateway office is arranging a programme of workshops covering a number of important topics.

The classes are to be held on 7, 14 and 22 April for existing and budding business owners at The Business Store, 75-81 Cathcart Street, Greenock.

Topics range from how to create an effective marketing plan to networking with other local business people.

To find out more visit www.bgateway.com/inverclyde or call 778465.


‘Fear’ charge A MAN accused of frightening a woman at a house in Port Glasgow has appeared in court from police custody.

Joseph McFadden, 42, is charged with pushing the front door of the property in Montrose Avenue, gaining entry and placing the woman in a state of fear and alarm.

McFadden, of Markinch Road in the Port, was granted bail by Sheriff Ruth Anderson and is due to appear again in court on 29 April.


BT lines go back up ALL of the Inverclyde BT customers affected by a major fault should have their lines re-connected by tomorrow.

Two hundred people lost their landline and internet services on 23 March after an underground cable was damaged at the junction of Hilltop Road and Larkfield Road in Gourock.

Customers were hit in Braeside, Larkfield and the Inverkip Road and Cumberland Road areas.

Bosses at BT said their engineers had been working day and night since last Friday to fix the problem.

A BT spokesman said: “The last remaining lines will be reconnected by tomorrow. It is an extremely complex task.”
Jailed for ‘drug’ flush A MAN will serve a year behind bars for attempting to flush items believed to be drugs down a toilet.

Peter Docherty, 44, committed the offence when confronted by two police officers at an address in Port Glasgow on Christmas Eve.

He also struggled with the officers as they attempted to handcuff him and ‘refused to comply with instructions given’.

Docherty, a prisoner at Low Moss, was also caught in possession of heroin at the address, in Maxwell Street.


Orienteering race event THE Scottish Orienteering League race takes place at Dunrod Hill near Greenock on Sunday 27 April.

It is open to the public, with courses to suit all abilities and ages.

Start times are from 10.30am to 1pm with registration from 10am.

To register visit www.clydesideorienteers.org.uk
‘Walls safe locally’ INVERCLYDE Council has today reassured parents over the safety of local schools following the death of a 12-year-old girl in Edinburgh after a wall collapse.

Tragic Keane Wallis-Bennet was in a changing room preparing for PE class in the capital’s Liberton High School when an internal wall fell and trapped her.

Municipal Buildings bosses in Greenock say that a similar accident in Inverclyde is extremely unlikely following massive recent investment in local schools — but safety checks are being carried out anyway.

A council spokesman said: “All of Inverclyde’s secondary schools are either brand new or fully refurbished as part of a £210 million investment in the school estate.

“Many of our primary schools have also recently been rebuilt or refurbished.

“While we do not think there are any issues, in order to give reassurance to parents and pupils we are checking the stability of any half height partitions.”
Man’s ‘shout’ denial A GREENOCK man has denied causing a breach of the peace in the Oak Mall.

Sean McLuskey, 22, of Killearn Road, is accused of shouting, swearing and kicking a door at the shopping centre on 5 February.

He appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court to plead not guilty to the charge and the case will continue later this month.


Family’s hospital thank you is a sell out success A CHARITY night inspired by a Port Glasgow teenager with a complex heart condition is a sell-out.

All tickets for the event in the 68 Club on Brown Street on Friday 11 April have gone.

It is being organised by Port man Andrew Hurrell and wife Angela to help Yorkhill Hospital, where doctors helped save the life of their daughter Stephanie, 16.

Medics at the hospital also carried out vital heart surgery on the couple’s youngest daughter Jacqueline, 10.

Their grateful parents arranged a charity evening featuring bingo, a prize raffle and live band to raise money for the wards and neighbouring Ronald McDonald House.

The tickets have all been snapped up with more than a week still to go until the big night.

Andrew said: “The charity night is all sold out. If you have ordered tickets please arrange collection and thank-you very much to everyone that has bought tickets or donated prizes for the raffle.”
Support group INVERCLYDE people are being invited to the next meeting of the Clyde Group of Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

It will be on Saturday from 1.30 to 4pm at Adelaide’s, 209 Bath Street, Glasgow, on the corner of Pitt Street.

The speaker will be Professor John Gibson, a specialist in treating oral Crohn’s Disease.

Organisers promise a warm welcome for patients, carers and family members.

Call 0845 434 8431 for more details.


Theft charge A PORT teenager appeared in court to deny stealing car keys and jewellery.

Robert O’Neill, 19, is alleged to have committed the theft at an address in the town’s Hollybush Lane on 15 June.

O’Neill, of Dougliehill Terrace, will return to court next month.


Clothing plan PLANS to convert a former Gourock beauty salon into a men’s clothing store have been approved.

Council officials have granted permission for Duo Menswear bosses to make alterations to the former Bliss Beauty outlet at 72 Cardwell Road.


Trains have extra summer services TRAIN passengers have received a major double boost after rail bosses announced that extra services are on track for this summer.

From May, ScotRail will double the number of ‘fast’ trains between Gourock and Glasgow Central during peak times while there will also be twice as many limited stop services in the morning and evening.

The operator has also confirmed it will lay on a new early morning Wemyss Bay connection to the city centre on weekdays.

The new 6.12am service will reach the city at 7.02am to help early bird commuters or those who have onward connections to their place of work.

On Sundays there will also be an additional train departing Glasgow at 8.50pm arriving at Wemyss Bay at 9.39pm.

Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail, said: “Inverclyde services are increasingly popular.

“We have taken the opportunity to add additional capacity where there is space to do so.” The move has also been welcomed by Scottish transport minister Keith Brown.

Mr Brown said: “These additional services are great news for commuters in the Inverclyde area, and will also be welcomed by leisure passengers who will look forward to using the new added Sunday service.”
Hunt for sign firebug POLICE say they are following a ‘positive’ line of inquiry after a Greenock shop sign was set on fire.

CCTV footage is understood to show a youth acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the Lees 2 shop in Corlic Street.

The sign was torched around 1.20pm on Tuesday afternoon.


< b>Ducking and diving FUNLOVERS can go quackers at a duck race this weekend.

It is at Finlaystone Country Estate on Sunday from 1-3pm.

A spring walk through the woodland is also taking place on Saturday from 1-3pm.


Flat raid is worth £8k THIEVES netted an £8,000 haul after forcing their way into a flat in Greenock’s Dempster Street — in broad daylight.

They helped themselves to jewellery, electronic equipment and around £2,000 in cash after breaking the lock on the main door of the property sometime between 2.30pm and 4.30pm on Tuesday afternoon.

Sergeant Allan O’Hare of Greenock police said: “Property to the value of around £6,000 was taken — including a TV, computers, cameras, a PS3 console and jewellery.

“Around £2,000 in cash was also stolen.” Anyone with information about the break-in should call police on the non-emergency 101 number.