AN army veteran served up free food and drink to fellow ex-servicemen and women at his Greenock pub to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Thoughtful Lithgows boss Mark Kerr, who served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders for over 25 years, welcomed former forces personnel into the Cathcart Street bar-restaurant for a complimentary drink and a bite to eat on Thursday.

The kind gesture, in partnership with chef Ian Connor, who lives in Greenock, was to commemorate the D-Day landings anniversary and honour those who have served their country.

Mark, 49, who was in the army for 27 years in total, took over the reins of the pub in April after quitting his job as a lorry driver.

He has medals for serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Northern Ireland as well as jubilee and accumulated service honours.

Mark also met the Queen at an event in Canterbury in 2014 when the regiment was being disbanded.

He told the Tele: "I'm just an old soldier looking to help other old soldiers.

"I was serving during the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings and was lucky and privileged enough to go on the guard of honour. "With it being the 75th anniversary on Thursday, I said I would love to do something. "We had a great reaction.

"A few folk came in just to say hello and we even had a guy from America come in. "He's a doctor now but he was also ex-Argylls.

"There were also guys I served next to in Germany 25 years ago who came in to reminisce over a few beers. "I brought my medals in as well as a talking point and to show them to people."

Mark is passionate about the armed forces and those who serve their communities, such as NHS and emergency services staff, and is also offering them a 20 per cent discount on their food bills.

He said: "It's a services thing - I want to give something back to the hard-working people of the area who serve their community.

"That's what me and Ian are trying to achieve. "I get a lot of veterans coming into the pub and I enjoy talking to them and they keep coming back, so we must be doing something right."