LINE of Duty star Martin Compston has thrown his support behind an SNP candidate who is seeking re-election in the actor's hometown. 

The TV star, 35, has been filming his upcoming BBC series The Nest in Loch Long in Argyll and Bute - and he took time out to film a video to reveal he was voting for Ronnie Cowan in the General Election on December 12. 

The politician is seeking re-election as The SNP Member of Parliament for Inverclyde and is running against Labour's Martin McCluskey, Liberal Democrats' Jacci Stoyle and Conservatives candidate Haroun Malik. 

Greenock-born Compston, best known for playing Steve Arnott in the hit crime drama Line of Duty, said: "I am here from a very brisk Loch Long. This is just a wee video in support of Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan in these chaotic times with Brexit and the absolute scandal of austerity brought on by the Tories.

"The SNP for me have been the only voice consistently to stand up against them and in Inverclyde the man leading that charge is Ronnie Cowan.

"That's why on December 12 I will be in Greenock to vote for Ronnie. All the best."

Mr Cowan said he was delighted to have received the endorsement from the actor and wished him the best of luck on the next series of Line of Duty. 

Compston has returned to Scotland to film the upcoming BBC drama The Nest. It was written by BAFTA award-winning Glaswegian writer Nicole Taylor and explores a surrogacy pact between a wealthy couple and a teenage girl.

We revealed last week that Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio had signed up Scottish Screen star Kelly Macdonald for the sixth series of the crime drama.