INVERCLYDE'S MP is hoping to tap into a thirst for water by pushing for hydration stations across the district.

Ronnie Cowan has joined forces with Greenock man Chris McLachlan to call for more top up taps in the area.

The only free public drinking water provided in Inverclyde is in Clyde Square in Greenock, just next to the Municipal Buildings.

Chris wants to see many more in locations across the area and has suggested Gourock Pier, Battery Park, the Esplanade, and Greenock and Port Glasgow town centres as suitable sites.

Chris, 32, was prompted to contact Mr Cowan after he saw families using the drinking water fountain in Largs.

He said: "I was surprised to see how many people were using it and thought it was a fantastic idea.

"I go to Battery Park a lot and when footballers are training, you see all the plastic bottles lying everywhere.

"If there was a top up tap nearby, the players could just refill the bottles.

"The taps have health and environmental benefits, as they're keeping people hydrated and removing the need to buy bottles of water.

"If there's a top up tap nearby, people will be more inclined to go there and fill up for free rather than going to the shop to buy a bottle of fizzy juice.

"People who are homeless would also be able to access free, clean water."

Mr Cowan says more taps across the area would have a positive impact on health and on the environment.

He said: "We want people to have access to clean, healthy drinking water but to do that we need to provide the facilities.

"There used to be a lot of drinking water foundations in Greenock, I remember there was one in South Street for many years.

"Inverclyde has a good history of providing good clean drinking water for the community.

"Now that people are embracing this, there's no reason why we can't expand on it if we find the right places to do it."

A spokesperson for Scottish Water says the top up tap in Clyde Square is part of a network of public water points in council areas across Scotland.

The tap was installed as part of the Your Water Your Life campaign which encourages people to carry a refillable water bottle and drink tap water on the go to benefit their health, save money and help protect the planet by reducing waste.

The spokesperson added: "Many factors are considered when selecting the best location for our taps and we always undertake a feasibility study to ensure our criteria is met.

"The sites must have access to the public water network, must be easily accessible for all members of the public and located in an area with high footfall.

"We will continue to work with local councils and community groups to determine the most suitable locations for the taps, as well as ensuring as many people as possible can access great-tasting tap water when they’re out and about."