New cranes named after Taylor Swift and Usain Bolt

A duo of international mega-stars are coming to Greenock later this year. Sort of.

Two new 39m (128ft) tall cranes which are due to be installed in the town's docks will be named after popstar Taylor Swift and athlete Usain Bolt, following a school competition.

Craner Swift is a nod to the singer, while U-Crane Bolt is a tribute to the Olympic gold medallist.

The £25m cranes have been built in Ireland and are due to arrive at the port in the coming months.

The competition to name the cranes was organised by site owner Peel Ports Clydeport in partnership with Inverclyde Council.

Primary six pupil Avaleigh Lang, 10, a pupil at Lady Alice Primary in Greenock said she is a "big fan" of the Blank Space singer and was "really pleased" to win.

While Frances McFadden, 10 from the town's St Mary's Primary School said her choice, paying homage to the world's fastest man, made people in her class laugh.

As well as getting to pick the names, the pupils will be celebrated on a plaque displayed alongside the cranes.

The cranes are expected to be be fully operational by the end of the year, part of a plan to boost trade and productivity at the site.

The installation of the cranes has been described as "the largest single investment made at the container terminal".

Jim McSporran, port director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said the cranes will become an "important part of the local skyline for years to come".

He said: “They will significantly expand our freight capability at the port, as well as improve efficiency and help significantly reduce our carbon footprint, so it’s a really exciting time for us as a business and also for the local region and west coast of Scotland.”