INVERCLYDE is set to become a major player in national indoor bowls after the area's indoor facility was given a £100k revamp.

Other areas have been left green with envy by the facelift at the Inverclyde Indoor Bowling Centre.

It means the venue can now host national and potentially international bowling competitions.

The improvements include a new ProWeave playing surface, a state of the art scoreboard and LED lighting.

In addition, the centre’s toilets have also been upgraded and the kitchen appliances have been renewed while the outside of the building has been painted.

Angus Munro, secretary of the Inverclyde Indoor Bowling Club said: “The new lights are incredible and the carpets are fabulous.

"In the past visiting teams complained that the old lights cast shadows and the carpets were too heavy.

“The £100,000 investment has changed all that.

"The facilities here are now very attractive for visiting teams.

"We’ve provisionally been asked if we will host the British Under 18s Championship, a competition that will bring players to Greenock from all over the country.

"We’ve really lifted our game."

Mr Munro thanked Councillor Ronnie Ahlfeld, Inverclyde Council’s Sports Champion, for his leading role in securing the funding for the improvement works.

Cllr Ahlfeld said: “I was very pleased to assist the club in getting the upgrade and refurbishment and am confident that it will go on from strength to strength in attracting more members and hosting national tournaments.”

Cllr Jim Clocherty, the convener of the council's education and communities committee says the significant investment will make 'an enormous difference'.

He told the Tele: "The playing surface has been completely replaced and the lighting has been significantly improved.

“The new scoreboard also means that the centre can now host national and potentially international bowling competitions.

"This will help turn the centre into an additional attraction for people visiting Greenock.”

David McCorkindale, head of leisure and community facilities at the centre, hopes the new and improved centre will encourage more people to get active.

He said: “The Inverclyde Indoor Bowling facility is a great place for our local community to get active and engage with each other.

"Inverclyde Council’s recent investment helps ensure the sustainability of the facility and we appreciate the significant investment in the leisure and community estate.

"The customers are delighted with the recent changes and we hope this helps to attract more people to try bowling this season.”