GREENOCK’S famous ‘Ginger the horse’ sculpture has been given a splash of red in support of the annual Scottish poppy appeal.

The Cathcart Street monument is sporting a red poppy for the first time as a special tribute ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

The 3.5-metre high Equus Clutha horse sculpture, better known locally as Ginger, was created by renowned Scottish artist Andy Scott and will wear the iconic emblem until Wednesday 11 November to raise awareness of the fundraising campaign by Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland.

Provost Robert Moran said: “The support Poppyscotland offers to those who have served as well as their families across Scotland and here in Inverclyde is extremely important and I am delighted we are able to support this worthy cause in our own way.

“I hope when people see Ginger’s poppy they recognise its significance and go and pick up a poppy of their own.” Poppyscotland is aiming to raise as much money as possible so it can continue to support those in the Armed Forces community who need it most and the Free French Memorial monument on Lyle Hill will also be lit up in red every evening until 11 November to help boost the fundraising campaign.

Colin Flinn, the charity’s head of fundraising, said: “It is fantastic to see Greenock’s most famous resident wearing a poppy.

“We very much value the support from the people of Inverclyde and I hope that when people see Ginger they will think about what the poppy means to them and continue to support us so that we can raise even more money to continue our life-changing work.” Ginger is the second of Andy Scott’s horse sculptures to wear its very own poppy, along with the 4.5-metre ‘Heavy Horse’ next to the M8 at Baillieston, which has been displaying one every November since 2011.

People can support the 2015 Appeal by taking a video or photo selfie using the Twitter hashtag #MyPoppyMeans and sharing on social media then donating by putting money in the poppy tins, texting POPPY to 70800 to give £3* or going online at www.poppyscotland.org.uk