EIGHTY years have passed since Hitler's bombers brutally battered Greenock, Gourock and Port Glasgow during the infamous wartime Blitz on our towns.

The air raids — which took place over the nights of May 6 and 7 in 1941 — claimed the lives of 329 men, women and children, injured 600 other victims, and left huge swathes of the district burning and devastated.

As the years since have rolled on, many of the survivors of what happened, and their memories, are no longer with us.

But it is a moment in the area's history which must never be forgotten.

Inverclyde has most recently — like the rest of the world — been living through the Covid-19 pandemic and the human tragedies it has inflicted.

Much like it did 80 years ago, the district has risen to the challenges of coronavirus and many stories of courage and human endeavour — as well as heartbreaking loss — have filled the pages of the Telegraph over the course of the last year or so.

Back in 1941, German bombers struck Greenock less than two months after the devastation of the Clydebank Blitz which killed more than a thousand people.

Centres of industry, as Greenock was with its shipyards and sugar refineries, were prime targets.

The Germans dropped 1,000 tons of bombs on Inverclyde.

A Greenock fire service report on May 6 read: "During the period of the raid 25 incidents were recorded at headquarters.

"These were expeditiously dealt with and with the exception of the undermentioned, presented no particular difficulty although serious damage was caused in several instances.

"The most difficult fires to handle were at Belville Street where, shortly after the arrival of the Brigade, a high explosive bomb destroyed the water main, (eliminating water pressure over a wide area), and the 5,000 gallon steel dam provided for the area.

"This circumstance necessitated relaying water from Victoria Harbour, a distance of about half a mile.

"The raid, although on a fair scale, was well within the scope of the local service."

Coronavirus and the associated public health restrictions may have put paid to the commemorations planned for the Blitz landmark anniversary.

But the Provost will lay a wreath at Greenock Cemetery as we remember all of those who were killed and injured.

They will also be honoured with a minute's silence during tomorrow's election count at the Waterfront Leisure Centre in Greenock.