ALEX Salmond’s Alba Party will field four candidates in the council elections as it contests seats in Greenock, Gourock and Port Glasgow.

Their group leader on Inverclyde Council, Jim McEleny, will be seeking re-election in Ward 3, which stretches from Greenock’s east end to Overton and covers the Broomhill area and the outskirts of Greenock town centre.

Also standing in Greenock will be Philomena Donnachie, who will contest Ward 4 - covering Greenock town centre and the west end.

The recently retired mother of two was previously a trade union convener and health and safety representative for large parts of her working life.

Also seeking election for the first time will be Louise Williams, who is bidding to represent Port Glasgow in Ward 2.

Ms Williams works at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and hopes to bring a 'better understanding' to the council chambers of the investment and support that the area needs in health and social care.

She said: “The biggest problem facing families I talk to is the cost of living and energy crisis created by Westminster.

"Some families are having to choose between heating and eating and this will only exacerbate the existing health inequalities Inverclyde faces.

"I would like to progress the setting up of a local not-for-profit energy co-operative to help keep energy bills down and with Alba's five point plan to tackle child and family poverty I believe we can do better for Inverclyde."

Completing Alba's lineup will be senior councillor Chris McEleny, who is seeking a third successive term in the Municipal Buildings representing Gourock.

He led the SNP in Inverclyde over the past decade and previously stood for depute leader of the nationalist party before leaving.

Mr McEleny has become one of the highest profile councillors in the country and says that throughout his term he has secured a series of meetings with members of the Scottish Government to discuss Inverclyde issues.

Alba Inverclyde leader Jim McEleny said: “We are delighted to declare our candidates and will be making the case for voting Alba across the towns of Inverclyde.

"Not a day goes by that there isn’t another example of why Scotland needs independence, and we are the only party that’s campaigning for that as an immediate priority.

“Alba councillors in Inverclyde have already made a difference with our campaign to freeze the council tax, thankfully reining in other parties from imposing unaffordable increases on rate payers, and we are pleased to have secured policies such as free gym access for young people.

"However, our campaign for 10,000 households in Inverclyde to receive £500 in cost of living support made a game-changing impact on putting this issue front and centre of the political priority list, and we are delighted this payment is now being delivered alongside the £150 payment that’ll go to everyone that lives in bands A to D.

“If Alba gain representation on Inverclyde Council we will have a big influence on shaping the next council’s policies."