BUS firm McGill's has rolled out a new £6.6m fleet of electric vehicles in a major move to boost green transport across the area.

More than a dozen fully electric buses are now operating in Greenock and Port Glasgow following a pair of launch events held by the company in Clyde Square and Coronation Park.

McGill's boss Sandy Easdale hailed the 14 zero emissions vehicles as a huge step forward for the area, and said that the firm was committed to making public transport more sustainable.

He said: "We're rolling out 14 fully electric buses over the coming days across Port Glasgow and Greenock.

"It's a massive investment, not only in terms of the buses which are so expensive, but the infrastructure back at the depot is also a massive cost to the company.

"I think it's the way forward - we trialled it first in Paisley and Inchinnan, and we looked to see if it was viable.

"The future is this kind of bus, so we're as well making the improvements now and getting the quality into the fleet and for the passengers moving forward.

"It's been good to see the public along to look at the buses, we felt it was important to do a launch like this because it is a significant investment and it's good for the public to be on board."

Company chief executive Ralph Roberts told the Telegraph that electric vehicles were a key part of the firm's plan to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Mr Roberts added: "We burn something in the region of 15 million litres of diesel a year, it's maybe actually nearer 17 million now.

"That's a lot of carbon to be burning and we're trying to get it down.

"Transport is the biggest single emitter as far as sectors go.

"The Scottish Government and the UK Government have targets for net zero and cars are going to have to be constrained bit by bit.

"We want to be in a position where taking the bus is a righteous option, it's not a smokey diesel bus.

"If they're going to leave their car because of low emission zones or something similar, at least they can say the bus is electric and low emissions.

"Even a diesel bus is saving emissions because every person that comes on that bus isn't using a car."

The two launch events were attended by both bus enthusiasts and members of the public, as well as a number of local councillors.

Port councillor David Wilson, who is also chair of Strathclyde Transport Partnership's operations committee, said he was thrilled to see the new vehicles entering into service.

The elected member added: "I'm delighted that McGill's are running these new electric buses in Port Glasgow and Greenock.

"It's a feather in our cap and as a Port Glasgow councillor I'm particularly pleased to see them on the upper Port runs.

"Ten years ago I was here when McGill's launched buses and ten years on these buses are replacing these buses.

"The investment's brilliant for the area and McGill's have always been very good to Port Glasgow, their home territory."

Mr Wilson's words were echoed by his fellow ward one councillor, Chris Curley, who said the new buses were an important part of the area's journey to net zero.

He said: "I'm pleased to see the investment McGill's are putting into these buses in the area.

"I would always encourage people to use the bus whenever possible.

"If you're going to be serious about getting to net zero and making our contribution to stopping the ongoing climbing emergency, we need to make these steps.

"There's lots we can do personally to help but getting on the bus whenever it's available is a good first stage."