A FAMOUS actor who wowed the world as 007 is in talks with a Largs man to buy his collection of unique photos of James Bond star George Lazenby.

Scotty MacLean collected an array of rare photos associated with the iconic actor's movies while working as a globe-trotting magician on cruise ships.

Now representatives of George Lazenby - who played the super spy in 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service -  and are interested in the press stills of George that Scotty has collected over the years

The story completes a circle for Scotty, who met his boyhood hero Lazenby in the 1980s while working in America.

He told the News it was a dream come true to cross paths with the actor.

Scotty, who lives in Largs Main Street, recalled: "I was in California and I knew George lived close by to where I was performing.

"I met him at a trendy restaurant near where he lived in Beverley Hills. I was performing my show at a venue nearby and getting the opportunity to meet someone I admired so much was a dream come true.

"He was a lovely man and very accommodating with his time. He spoke freely about his movie career.

"It took a long time to track him down, but it was worth it to have my James Bond movie poster signed.

"It is ironic that all these years later George is now wanting the Bond memorabilia that I have acquired.

"I collected a lot of unique photos of him when he was in Australia. They are rare shots with information written on the back of them by photographers carrying dates and location details.

"He was doing a couple of movies down under at the time and the photos are indeed pretty rare.

"I was speaking to George's manager recently and he has said that they would be interested in the collection. We are currently in talks.

"On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the first film I saw at the cinema. I was only eight and I became fascinated with George's career from that moment on."

Lazenby starred alongside one of the famous British actresses of the time Diana Rigg in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Scotty added: "She was one of the best Bond girls in my eyes."

Scotty has another unusual connection to the famous film franchise in that his second cousin is Largs man Shields Cureton, who famously just missed on becoming 007.

Standing at just over six foot, with suave looks, Shields fitted the bill to play the secret agent after George Lazenby in Diamonds are Forever.

When Guy Hamilton, the film’s director, saw Shields Templar - the Largs man’s stage name - he was so shaken and stirred that he told the then 29-year-old to prepare himself for the role.

But his dream fell apart as, unknown to Shields, negotiations had been taking place with Sean Connery in a bid to bring him back. Connery eventually accepted a £1m deal to return to the franchise.

Shields’ father was born in Largs, his family were from the town, and has still has relatives living locally. He moved to Hollywood in 1960 to study at the Don Martin School of Broadcasting and Scotty keeps in close contact with the actor, who is now in his 80s and lives in Arizona.

He said: "It is an amazing story. Both George Lazenby and Shields ended up in Australia, and Shields worked with Lazenby on a movie there called 'The Man from Hong Kong' where Lazenby played the villain. They both got together off screen and chatted about their Bond connection.

"His path also crossed on projects with Roger Moore and it is incredible to think that a Largs man got to work alongside two James Bonds in his career."