A Millport businessman believes that the island could soon be hosting a science fiction convention if fans of TV star and author John Barrowman keep visiting.

Paul Watling, who is the owner of Astikkos Creation, and runs the Cumbrae Visitor Centre, acted as a guide for a group of John Barrowman fans who visited the Isle of Cumbrae recently to discover the location which inspired the best seller 'Hollow Earth' written by tv star John Barrowman and his sister Carole.

The 14 strong group included members from France, Germany, England and Scotland, and the visit to Cumbrae was combined with a trip to Glasgow to see John Barrowman perform in the panto 'Jack and the Beanstalk'.

Locations made famous in 'Hollow Earth' written by John and his sister Carole including the Lion Rock, which transforms into the Tyranosaurus Rex in the novel, and a tour of the town of Millport, known as 'Seaport' in the book, were all part of the itinerary.