STAR performers shone brightly at yesterday's grand opening of the 95th Inverclyde Music Festival.

Talented schoolchildren from Gourock and Whinhill primaries were the first on stage after the official opening ceremony at Greenock Town Hall.

Festival president Isabel Lind told the audience that it was a pleasure to open the popular two week event, as so much hard work goes into organising it every year.

She said: "This festival takes a great deal of organising.

"In fact it takes Anne McGregor, our secretary, the whole year to organise.

"She takes two weeks holiday after the festival but for the rest of the year she's organising the festival alongside our committee.

"But we think it's worth it."

During her opening speech, Isabel also stressed that the festival heavily relies on the support of the local community.

She added: "It costs an awful lot of money as we have to pay to get into the beautiful town hall.

"But we still think it's worth it.

"The most important people in the festival are our competitors.

"But what makes the festival different from a concert is that we have adjudicators and over the years we learn so much from them.

"This year we have 12 different adjudicators."

The children from P4/P5 and the Gaelic unit at Whinhill Primary School were excited to perform their action song 'Summer Nights'.

Teacher Ilona Dickson said: "The pupils have been practising hard since before Christmas.

"They are performing 'Summer Nights' from Grease but the words are changed so it refers to Greenock, it's brilliant."

The P5 children from Gourock Primary were performing shipyard-inspired action song 'I Belong to Glasgow' and 'Loch Lomond'.

Their teacher Gillian Workman said: "They started rehearsing just after Christmas and have done so well."