A MAJOR textile firm has got behind Paisley as it plans to build a legacy of its UK City of Culture 2021 bid.

Coats, the world’s largest industrial thread manufacturer, was last year one of 15 firms to pledge £20,000 towards the costs of Paisley hosting the cultural title, should it have won.

And members of the company’s board of directors have confirmed the pledge will remain in place for projects promoting the bid legacy plans for Coats’ birthplace.

Members of the Coats Group PLC board, including chairman Mike Clasper and group chief executive Rajiv Sharma, made the announcement during a visit to the town.

While in the town they were given a tour of Paisley Museum and Coats Observatory.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, chair of Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “We are delighted to have welcomed the Coats board to Paisley and thank them for their contribution towards its ongoing transformation.

“With the museum set to undergo a transformation into a major visitor destination over the next few years, it was great to show the board how the shared heritage and creative spirit of Paisley and Coats will be at the heart of the town’s future.

“Just as Paisley made textiles, textiles made Paisley.”