THE Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Museum in Greenock now have a 1936 ‘movie star’ to fill a gap in their timeline.

The museum and heritage centre, which was opened in 2012, brought life back into a building which had lain empty for 52 years.

The former fire station’s array of engines, some of which are still operational, uniforms and firefighting equipment has proved popular with visitors.

The newest addition to the collection is the Leyland Cub Light Six, affectionately called Cracker, which has been given to the museum on loan from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The engine has a six-cylinder petrol engine with an electric start and a 500 gallons per minute pump, two deliveries and a hose reel function.

It came with a 30-foot ladder and when operating was able to carry six crew members.

On retirement from active service, the appliance was used in the 1969 film The Battle of Britain as a London Fire Brigade appliance.

Chairman of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service heritage trust, David Adam, is delighted to have it on display locally.

He said: “This station opened in 1889 and closed in 1960. We have engines from the time it was open to when it was shut and this is a nice addition.

“It is great to have, it is one of the first motorised engines.”

The museum is staffed entirely by members of the heritage trust and due to volunteer numbers it isn’t open full time.

It is open on the second and last Sunday of every month from 12-4pm and more frequently during cruise season.

For more information, or to check opening times, visit https://sfrheritagetrust.org/fire-and-rescue-heritage-trust-events/events