A FIRE-DAMAGED close in Gourock has finally been painted - two years after a blaze blackened it.

Residents had repeatedly complained about the state of the building which was badly smoke damaged.

Nothing was done until Councillor Lynne Quinn visited the close last month and highlighted the issue in the Telegraph.

Lynne said: "It's been easily enough transformed.

"It's taken a picture in the Telegraph to shame River Clyde Homes into doing something.

"The thing is that this has taken two years.

"There are kids in this close who were walking past that every day, reminding them of the fire.

"People were trying to move on and forget.

"If your house went on fire you wouldn't wait two years to paint it.

"I'm really happy it's been done and I want to thank the Telegraph for raising residents' concerns.

The work started after the Christmas break and it took two men just over a week to complete the work.

They washed down the walls and ceiling with sugar soap to remove the sulphur and it was then given a base coat and three coats of paint.

Everything was cleaned, including windows, and the handrail was repainted.

The close door was also freshened up.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It's much better.

"It's so bright, it looks amazing.

"I think it's been painted because it was in the Tele and because Lynne came out - nothing was done before that.

"Before there was a constant reminder of the fire.

"I feel a lot calmer now it's gone."