A COMMUNITY project is digging in to help with a drive to create a new look for an historic Greenock harbour and attract people to it.

The team from Belville Garden are on site at East India Harbour with the national cycling and walking charity Sustrans as work gets under way on a waterfront revamp.

The 'Pocket Place' scheme has been delayed because of Covid, but now the team are all geared up and ready to go.

Belville are installing new planter seats to sit alongside a wildlife meadow which will be established on the southern infilled dock.

It will be surrounded by seating and musical instruments, boxes for fishermen and a telescope for visitors to use.

John McLennan, from the community garden, said: "It is such a beautiful spot and we are delighted to be part of this, trying to open it up to people.

"We are working along with Sustrans and it should make a real difference."

The Pocket Place project is led by Sustrans and followed on from a public consultation on ways to open up the waterfront.

It ties in with Inverclyde Council’s long-term plan to upgrade the coastal route from Wemyss Bay to Port Glasgow

The Belville team includes John and colleague Frank Smith, plus Kickstart apprentice Liam O'Hara as well as volunteer Lee Stanton.

Volunteer Lee, who lives in Belville Street, said: "I am loving volunteering in the outdoors and coming down here and helping out."

Sustrans project designer Jon Rowe added: "It has been very frustrating trying to get this started because of Covid but it is starting to take shape now.

"We are opening the waterfront up to people, making it a public place.

"It is such a beautiful spot to be and we want people to enjoy it as they walk.

"We want more people to come down here to walk and cycle."