A man has opened up about being featured in a new documentary covering the ups and downs of a Linwood car factory.

Joe Reilly, 77, worked as a welder at the Linwood Road plant, where many Renfrewshire residents were employed in the 1960s, 70s and early 80s for 12 years.

The factory, which was originally owned by automobile manufacturer Rootes before changing hands on two other occasions, produced vehicles such as the Hillman Imp, Avenger, Hunter and Sunbeam and is now featured in a new film on STV.

'Linwood, the Imp and me', directed by Paul Coulter, covers the lifespan of the plant, from the prosperity of its opening in 1963 to the economic and social impact of its closure in 1981.

Joe, who lives in Johnstone, detailed how he found himself working at the factory, the site of which is now occupied by the Phoenix Business and Retail Park.

He said: "Like many people at that time, when I got married housing was scarce.

"I lived in Glasgow at the time and the best way to get a property was being a part of the overspill and the best way to do that was by getting a stable job like working in the factory.

"Linwood, Paisley and Johnstone all benefited from the factory being opened but so did Glasgow as well.

"The catchment area for the workforce was large and all the way down to Ayrshire."

Prince Phillip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, opened the factory in 1963.

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American company Chrysler then took over the plant in 1967.

Production of the flagship Hillman Imp stopped in 1976 and the site was then bought by Peugeot-Citreon in 1979.

(Image: Joe Reilly) It subsequently closed in 1981 as car manufacturing dried up in Scotland.

Joe explained the financial impact this had on the area.

He said: "When the closure was announced, workers got the equivalent of a year’s wages in their hands.

"A lot of people thought they were going to get a new job quickly. It took a while for some people to recognise the extent of what had just happened.

"That money eventually ran out and the area really began to struggle.

"The impact was devastating. Shops began to shut and other businesses closed which left the area with very little in it."

Joe is one of many talking heads in the documentary, along with the previous owners of the factory, managing directors and families of those who worked there.

The film also highlights how the closure of the plant had a societal impact that went beyond people losing income.

He added: "It was such an important part of my life for the 12 years that I worked there.

"Social circles formed from there which were brilliant at the time as you were working among friends.

"However, when it shut, all that infrastructure started to fall away. People couldn’t afford to pay their bills never mind socialise. Relationships and communities started to disintegrate.

"It was a really difficult time. A lot of people never really recovered from losing their job at the factory."

The programme is available to stream for free on STV player.