A NEW plaque is to be erected in Clydebank to honour Polish sailors who came to the town’s aid after the Blitz.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s cultural committee approved the thanks for the “defence of Clydebank” to be unveiled as Clydebank marks the anniversary of the attacks on March 13 and 14, 1941.

The ORP Piorun was built at the John Browns yard and was back for repairs when the Luftwaffe attacked and killed more than 500 residents.

She helped protect Clydebank during the raids and there is already a plaque to the ship, first unveiled in 1994.

The new plaque will have similar wording to the existing one, at Solidarity Plaza, and will be placed temporarily at the Titan Crane until Queens Quay work allows a permanent location along the Clyde.

It will initially be near a plaque to the three lives lost on the Flying Phantom tug capsizing on December 19, 2007.

Councillors on the committee were told on January 17 the Polish Consul in Scotland was happy for the city of Gdynia to start a working relationship with Clydebank. It would not be a formal twinning relationship.

There will also be a friendship agreement with Letterkenny Municipal District and council officers will now work to finalise arrangements for a potential event in March.

Bailie Denis Agnew, who chairs the committee, said it was important to celebrate the town’s links with Europe. A budget of £2,000 for the European Connections event was agreed in November.

A provisional date of March 2 had been pencilled in for an event, but Bailie Agnew admitted it may have been “ambitious”.

He said: “It’s about future generations. I’m happy Letterkenny and Gdynia have been responding.”