OVER 13,000 people from all over the UK docked in Inverkip for the 2019 Scotland's Boat Show.

The three-day spectacular at Kip Marina was a roaring success with visitors from near and far enjoying an array of new and pre-owned boats for sale, luxury cars and motorcycles on display and food, drink and some retail therapy from the many stalls in the huge shoreside pavilions.

The show - the largest of its kind in Scotland and second biggest in Britain - launched on Friday and ran until Sunday afternoon.

There were also cooking demonstrations courtesy of students from West College Scotland in Greenock, who were accompanied by celebrity chef Nick Nairn on the final day, various sailing 'taster' sessions laid on by RYA Scotland and loads of stalls selling everything from clothes and furniture to artisan arts and crafts in the lifestyle pavilion sponsored by Gourock-based ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne.

Such was the success of the event that many of the exhibitors were on the phone first thing on Monday morning to book their place for next year.

Organiser Kevin Blamire said: "The show was brilliant.

"Saturday in particular was a bumper day and we think it may have been our busiest day ever. "Although there was some heavy rain in the morning, we hit the jackpot later on with the sun coming out.

"There was a really nice atmosphere around the place during the whole weekend. "We're so proud that the boat show is such a real family event. "If I wasn't helping to organise it, it's something I'd love to go to myself."

Depute provost of Inverclyde, Councillor David Wilson, helped open the 33rd edition of the show on Friday morning along with the area's MSP, Stuart McMillan, MP Ronnie Cowan and Gavin McDonagh, the managing director of marina owners Holt Leisure Group.

This year's show saw the biggest number of exhibitors from London and elsewhere down south so far.

Early results of surveys, carried out with help from the WCS students, suggest that more people than ever before from Glasgow and central Scotland visited.

Marina MD Gavin said: "It's such a positive event for Inverclyde.

"There's nothing else like it."

Attention has already turned to next year's boat show, which will run from October 9-11 and will be part of Scotland's Year of Coasts and Waters 2020.