One of Scotland"s biggest film stars visited Renfrewshire last week to meet a real life movie hero.

Hollywood A-lister Ewan McGregor rode into Bishopton with pal Charley Boorman as part of their epic motorcycle adventure "Long Way Down".

As part of the trip, the stars - who made a film and book called "Long Way Round" about a 20,000 mile motorcycle jaunt round the world - popped into Erskine home to meet veterans of World War II and the Falklands.

They chatted with was 95-year-old author Alex Lees who survived the famous prisoner of war camp immortalised in the Steve McQueen movie The Great Escape.

Alex who served with the Royal Army Service Corps during the second world war was held at Stalag Luft III where he volunteered to be the gardener from his room and would carry sand in empty Red Cross boxes and mix it with the surface soil. He also swapped beds with one of the officers on the escape list.

During their meeting Trainspotting star McGregor signed a copy of Alex"s autobiography Before It"s Too Late which recounts his experiences in the camp.

Alex said: 'It was a great privilege to meet both Ewan and Charley.

'Seeing a Hollywood legend riding in on a motorbike, reminded me of Steve McQueen in the film.

'Ewan took great time to chat to the veterans and their families who gathered to meet the team from Long Way Down and we are very grateful that he took time out from his long trip to visit Erskine.' Ewan and Charlie are currently travelling through 20 countries on BMWs and are expected to arrive in Cape Town, South Africa, in August.