A MAJOR £125,000 refurbishment project to renew Greenock Town Hall's floor has unearthed some unexpected finds.

The work is expected to last six weeks and includes ripping up the surface in the main hall and saloon.

The original floor of the A-Listed building, which dates back to 1865, was pitched pine but officials think it was replaced with Canadian maple in the 1950s or earlier.

When lifting the floor this time workmen discovered old newspapers dating back to June 6 1944, D-Day.

They also found an old council wage slip where an employee worked 43 hours for £10 and a £1 bonus.

Also recovered from underneath the floorboards were a series of different brands of cigarette packets.

Deputy council leader Jim Clocherty said: ""It's like a step back in time.

"It shows how the working man worked and how smoking was part of the everyday for the working man.

"The old newspaper is part of history underneath the town hall."

Councillor Clocherty says the work is part of a long-term maintenance plan and is being carried out with permission with Historic Scotland.

He said: "We are the custodians of the town buildings.

"It is only right that we invest in these buildings to ensure they are kept in pristine order.

"Hopefully this floor will last another 50 years."

As a major wedding venue, a time had to be arranged in partnership with operators Inverclyde Leisure.

Ian Dyer, operations manager for community facilities with IL, said the floor was getting to the stage where it needed replaced.

He said: "It had been sanded and sealed so many times."

The town hall has also been refurbished to allow easy access with the old District Court room, which has been revamped and is used for weddings.

A total of 740 square metres of flooring has been lifted and will be replaced again with Canadian maple.

The work is being carried out by local firm WH Kirkwood Ltd and a specialist flooring company.

There is a natural slope towards the stage and quantity surveyors and engineers have been using laser levelling equipment - not available the last time the floor was replaced - to ensure the perfect finish.

The saloon was also refurbished last year and lighting and toilets have been upgraded in the building.

The room now displays eight glass panels, just a few of the several found in the basement.

The town hall upgrade is one of several under way in local community facilities.

Mr Dyer said: "These works are only made possible through the financial support of IL’s partners, Inverclyde Council, and we are very grateful for this financial support which helps maintain all of these facilities for future generations."