AN historic mural depicting Port Glasgow maritime heritage has been unveiled in the town hall.

The picture shows a scene at the Dry Dock, the first to be built in Scotland, dating back to 1762.

RIG Arts were commissioned to design the artwork and it is now taking pride of place in the central corridor.

The idea was the brainchild of Port Glasgow West Community Council and the Town Centre Regeneration Forum.

The forum had a £15,000 budget and community representatives were asked to identify projects to promote and enhance the town centre.

Tommy Rodger, community council secretary, said: "We put our thinking caps on and came up with the idea of using our town’s fantastic shipbuilding and commercial history.

"Many Portonians under the age of 50 will not remember our vibrant waterfront.

"The Port Glasgow Dry Dock, latterly called Lamont's Dock, was the first of its type to be built in Scotland. It opened in 1762 on the current site of the health centre and car park near the bottom of John Wood Street.

"The water emptied from the dock, was discharged by a horse drawn pump, designed by James Watt himself. It's great we can celebrate that in this way."

Tommy says the original picture will be appreciated by locals and visitors alike.

He said: "This will be viewed and admired by all Portonians and town hall patrons. It has pride of place."

The group had previously commissioned RIG Arts to create art for Port Glasgow Railway Station, making the arts charity the natural choice for the dry dock mural.

Tommy said: "The process of drafting the mural was a collaborative exercise. The Port Glasgow West Community Council members briefed the RIG Arts artist, using old photographs of the waterfront.

"We then held series of ongoing collaborative meetings to agree the progress of the mural."

Following the unveiling Artist Jim Strachan who created the picture and RIG Arts manager Karen Orr said a few words about the project.

The large mural will be printed onto aluminium and the large artwork measures 24 foot by eight foot.

It will then be mounted, pending planning permission, on the wall of Port Glasgow swimming pool, the site of the former Monty's pub, 25 yards from the original dry dock.

Tommy said: "We believe that this large mural will greatly enhance the regeneration of our Port Glasgow town centre."

Karen Orr, of Rig Arts, said: "The image of the dock and harbours will be scaled to become a mural to be hung on the gable end of Inverclyde Leisure's Swimming Pool. The mural will show a bustling scene from days gone by with something different to see every time it's viewed."

Anne Ross, community council chairperson, said: "Port Glasgow West Community council would like to thank RIG Arts for working with us on this marvellous project."

Pictured from left to right are Jason and Karen Orr, RIG Arts, Jim McIlhinney and Dan Blaney, community council members, Anne Ross chairperson, and Tommy Rodger.