HERITAGE enthusiasts are gearing up for the busy cruise ship season as they celebrate the Greenock fire museum's 10th anniversary.

A team of volunteers are on hand to welcome visitors to the town and help ensure they have a unique experience when visiting Greenock.

The summer promises to be a busy time for the museum and John says he is keen to get as many people as possible to spend time in Inverclyde, rather than heading off elsewhere on bus tours.

John Cairns, secretary of the newly entitled Scottish Fire Brigades Heritage Trust, said: "The cruise ship footfall is set to double during the summer.

"We want to encourage people to stay and spend their money in local shops."

Graeme Kirkwood, a museum volunteer who was a retained firefighter for 13 years in Greenock, said: "We usually get up to 150 visitors when the Princess Royal cruise vessels come to Greenock."

There are lots of attractions in the museum, located in the town's former Victorian Fire Station in Wallace Place.

Highlights include an 1820 appliance from Perthshire, a 1950s fire engine that was used in Gourock and a 1936 engine on loan from Edinburgh Fire Museum which featured in the film Battle of Britain.

A favourite with children is Wallace the Fire Dog, who was adopted by Glasgow Central Fire Station in 1894.

He became their mascot and preceded the fire engines to many fires in Glasgow until his death in 1902.

Wallace is now preserved and takes pride of place in the Greenock Museum.

Mr Cairns said: "He is the fire service equivalent of Greyfriars Bobby.

"We invite nurseries and schools in for storytelling sessions based on books written by James Drummond.

"Wallace is so popular with children, their parents and grandparents."

During the Telegraph's visit we met up with a German firefighter who had been on board cruise ship Mein Schiff 3 and was keen to visit the museum.

Michael Baker, 39, from the city of Neuss, said: "It's amazing.

"One of our friends from the ship suggested we visit the museum and as I'm a firefighter, there was only one decision.

"I think it is very important to show the history of the fire department."

For more information about the fire museum visit https://sfbheritagetrust.org/scottish-fire-and-rescue-heritage-museum-greenock/