STAFF at Greenock bus company McGill’s are moving on up — after lifting the lid on the first ever open-top tours in Inverclyde.

The Larkfield-based firm are set to launch their new ‘Local Highlights Tour’ aimed at showcasing the beauty and rich history of the area to some of the record-100,000 cruise ship passengers expected to descend on Greenock over the coming months.

McGill’s have invested £45,000 in two open-top buses which will take tourists — and locals — on a one-hour trip around some of Inverclyde’s top attractions.

The itinerary will include Lyle Hill, Custom House Quay, the Beacon Arts Centre, McLean Museum, Battery Park, Esplanade and Newark Castle.

Company bosses hope to tap into the busy cruise ship season, which starts in a fortnight’s time with the arrival of Caribbean Princess on 5 May — one of 56 vessels due between now and September.

McGill’s also hope the tours will keep more tourists in Inverclyde to boost the local economy.

Ralph Roberts, the firm’s managing director, pictured above left, said: “Cruise ship passengers use open-top tours at ports worldwide and this was missing at the Greenock stop. We decided to provide this service in the hope that we could help showcase Inverclyde and allow cruise passengers to hop on and off. Hopefully this will bring more trade to local businesses “In other words, we hope to support better penetration into the local economy.” McGill’s say the open-top tours are the first of their kind in Inverclyde and during the journeys there will be audio commentary explaining some of the history and stories behind the buildings and places featured. A full tour will last one hour and tickets will be valid all day for passengers to get on and off at will. Greenock Ocean Terminal’s 2015 cruise season will be the busiest ever for the area as the port becomes the first in Scotland to smash through the 100,000 annual passenger barrier.

Forecasters believe that the local economy could benefit to the tune of almost £9 million as a result. For more details and for ticket information visit www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk or call free on 08000 51 56 51.