Council chiefs have pledged £50,000 investment into Irvine’s Harbourside in a bid to boost tourism.

The cash injection will pay for the town to host the Making Waves Festival in the summer of 2020, which North Ayrshire Council hopes will become the town’s signature event.

It is proposed the event will have a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and on active and healthy lifestyles.

A number of other, smaller events will celebrate the area’s heritage and its lively arts and culture scene as well as building strong communities, council bosses say.

The full events programme will reflect the council’s tourism ambitions and showcase the new tourism route – the Coig, which is due to be launched this later 2019.

The funding was agreed at last week’s Cabinet meeting and the programme of events is being put together to celebrate the Scottish Government’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020.

Officers will now submit an application to Events Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters Fund and additional support will be sought from the Scottish Government to help progress the plans for the Making Waves Festival.

Karen Yeomans, Director of Economy and Communities, said: “Marine and Coastal Tourism is important to North Ayrshire’s economy, it’s the council’s priority to promote and develop our key natural assets to attract visitors and generate new business. The Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 is an excellent opportunity to encourage more visitors to explore all that North Ayrshire has to offer.

“By hosting a spectacular event at Irvine’s Beach park and hosting a series of small events, we hope to attract an additional 80,000 visitors to North Ayrshire next year, with projected economic impact of over £4.5m.”

The council has also agreed to support a number of local events in 2020 including the Fife Regatta based at Largs Yacht Haven, assisting North Ayrshire’s sailing clubs and marinas in their bids to host sailing events and helping to land Scotland’s Marine and Tourism Conference 2020.