THE Depute Provost is looking for the royal seal of approval for the new £600k iconic steel sculptures being installed in Port Glasgow.

David Wilson, who has been an enthusiastic supporter of The Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow statue despite all the controversy over the project, believes it merits a high-profile unveiling.

He says would like to see William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, come to Inverclyde for an official visit and carry out the honour during it.

Councillor Wilson said: "I have contacted the chief executive of the council to ask if they would get in touch with the Lord Lieutenant, Colonel Peter McCarthy, to ask if a member of the royal family would unveil the sculptures.

"Personally I would like William and Kate to come to Inverclyde - the new generation of royals.

"That would be a great occasion for Inverclyde."

Mr Wilson says he has always been fully behind the sculptures project, despite it doubling in cost and taking over a decade.

The giant figures are finally being erected in Coronation Park after foundation work was completed.

Mr Wilson told the Telegraph: "I've always supported the project.

"I think it was a fabulous idea and it has worked out extremely well.

"It is our answer to the Kelpies.

"It demands a royal person to officially unveil it."

The huge stainless steel figures are now taking shape after a team spent days uses cranes to haul the parts into place.

The statues were created by Ayrshire-based artist John McKenna and stand 33ft tall and weigh 14 tonnes.

The last royal visit in Inverclyde was in 2012, when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh came to Greenock to officially open the local authority's Customer Service Centre in Clyde Square.

Municipal Buildings officials say they will take Mr Wilson's request to the area's royal representative.

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: “We have received the request and we will make contact with the office of the Lord Lieutenant.

“We are in the final stages of assembly of the sculpture and while we will make an approach it should be noted that requests for royal visits are often planned some time in advance.”