BBC Beechgrove Garden presenter and Helensburgh native Jim McColl has died.

The presenter was 89 and had hosted the show since it started in 1978.

Originally from Kilmarnock, James H McColl MBE and his family moved to Helensburgh when father Tom took up the role as the Helensburgh parks superintendent with town's council in 1954.

They lived in the converted Air Raid Post building at the top of Hermitage Park and later in the cedar bungalow at the par's entrance.

Highly regarded locally, Tom went on to serve as chairman of Helensburgh and Gareloch Horticultural Society from 1955 until 1973.

Speaking to Eye on Millig columnist Leslie Maxwell in 2019, Jim said: "My parents' move to Helensburgh coincided with the start of my college course at the West of Scotland Agricultural College, now part of the Scottish Agricultural College, which was split between premises in Glasgow and Auchincruive on the outskirts of Ayr.

READ MORE: Eye on Millig: Beechgrove's Jim McColl has Helensburgh roots

“For two years I was a winter ‘lodger’ with my parents as I commuted daily to Glasgow. The other half of each year was spent at Auchincruive, when I was only home at weekends.

“We were members of St Columba Kirk when the minister was the Rev Alex Ritchie. I sang in the choir, and helped with the Sunday School when the superintendent was Willie Mickel.

“I joined the Bible Class at the Old Kirk, consorting with people like Bryan Drever and Douglas Lamb.

“The second winter, I joined the Amateur Choral and Dramatic Society as a chorus member, when the musical director was Jae Gardiner. It was a privilege to know Jae and her husband George, if only for a short time.”

Jim retired in 2019 after starting the Beechgrove with co-presenter George Barron in 1978.

He had moved to Aberdeen with wife Billie and his two children after a career in academic horticulture, teaching at colleges and universities, and then working at the ministry of agriculture.

The McColl family said: “It’s with a heavy heart we share the passing of Jim McColl, husband, dad and grandad who passed peacefully yesterday.

"He will be hugely missed not only by us but by his friends, colleagues and a nation who he shared his passion for gardening with over four decades at The Beechgrove Garden.”

BBC Scotland's acting director Geraldine McCartney paid tribute to McColl.

"His expert gardening advice and wisdom on The Beechgrove Garden was invaluable to green-fingered viewers over the decades and he will be greatly missed by all," she said.

"Loved by viewers across the nation, he’ll be especially missed in the North East, where he was a much-cherished part of the BBC Scotland and Tern TV teams for many years. Our thoughts are with Jim’s family, friends and colleagues.”