SCOTTISH Labour leader Anas Sarwar was full of praise for Gourock’s ‘fantastic’ high street during a recent visit to the area.

The senior MSP was taken on a whistlestop tour of Kempock Street during his visit to the town last Wednesday.

Alongside Labour’s Gourock by-election candidate Ian Hellyer, Mr Sarwar visited venues such as Good Brew, Wildfire Delicatessen, The Pirate and Bluebelle and the recently opened Riviera.

READ MORE: Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar pays visit to Gourock

Speaking to the Telegraph during the visit, the Scottish Labour chief said he believed Kempock Street could be used as an example for other towns and cities across the country.

Anas Sarwar toured Gourock businesses with Labour's local by-election candidate Ian Hellyer. (Image: George Munro)

He added: “I think if you look at the high street we’ve got here in Gourock, it’s clearly one that understands the need to invest in the facias and the look of the high street.

“Secondly it understands how you’ve got to attract people to come to the high street because of hospitality venues which drive traffic and it also has great boutique stores that people have a local connection to and great local businesspeople.

“I think that it’s a fantastic model that can be followed in other parts of the country, but we’ve got to make sure we change planning, licensing, give confidence, attract people to come to those high streets and part of it is of course people living near those high streets as well to get footfall.

“There are things here that cities can actually learn from.”

Mr Sarwar, who has visited Gourock and Inverclyde several times in recent years, said his party were keen to win the upcoming by-election on November 7.

The snap poll was triggered by former Gourock councillor Martin McCluskey stepping down from his role following his election as the new MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West.

Mr Sarwar said: “This is a fantastic community and we’ve been regular visitors here in Gourock, particularly supporting Martin McCluskey when he was the local councillor and when he was our candidate at the last general election.

“This is a key part in the country where we want to build support, of course to win this council by-election and of course to support our local authority, but also as part of the journey to delivering the next stage of change by delivering a Scottish Labour government in 2026.”