THE team behind the regeneration of South Beach have been inundated with nominations for bespoke deckchairs.

Last week, the members of Ardrossan Community Development Trust asked readers to help them find local heroes, businesses or historical events or landmarks to be featured on 50 deckchairs.

And once word was out, the group received over 170 suggestions from our readers.

In April the Development Trust was given £250,000 from the National Lottery to start its plans on building a giant playground at South Beach.

And part of the plan is to gift 100 bespoke deckchairs to the community to use at their leisure and for organised events such as movie screenings.

But they want to name each chair in honour of a person linked to Ardrossan.

The first 50 have been given names but they needed help with the other 50.

And they have ranged from sporting heroes to residents nominating their loved ones who enjoyed spending time at South Beach.

One of the most popular nominations is football icon Billy Gilmour.

Other sporting nominations Bobby Macnamara, Sam Morrison, Pat Breen and Willie Kean of Ardrossan Winton Rovers.

Wrestling funnyman Grado has also received a few nominations.

The Trust has been most touched by nominations from people who want to name a deckchair in memory of someone. Alison Milroy nominated her son Lewis and said: “Our wee boy Lewis loved spending time with his grandpa on a bench eating their packed lunch and watching the waves and the world go by such beautiful memories for our family in a truly beautiful place.”

John Clarke put his son Paul Gillan forward to have a deckchair in his memory.

He said: “My son Paul who rests in Ardrossan Cemetery has a tree in Ardrossan Academy but I hear the school will be moving and I think a deckchair in his name would be a different memory for us.”

And Maureen Hulbert nominated her mum.

She said: “My mum Marion Hutton was an Ardrossan lass born and bred and worked most of her life caring for others as manageress of care homes in the area, she now lives in South Beach House and loves being near the shore.”

The Trust, who will hold their AGM this week have now asked people to formally log their nominations on their website.

To nominate visit www.ardrossantrust.org/ where you can leave your nomination for the board to consider.

The Trust’s next plan is to show the community the

new playground for South Beach.