Sir Sean Connery has returned to the street of his birth for a special event celebrating his legacy to Edinburgh's Fountainbridge area.

The area in the west of Edinburgh's city centre has been undergoing major regeneration, following the sale of the former Scottish and Newcastle bottling site. Hundreds of new luxury flats are being built and as part of the project, a plaque honouring Sir Sean's birth 80 years ago was removed for safekeeping.

Now, the film star has taken part in a special homecoming celebration where the plaque, originally erected by the Scottish Film Council in 1996, was restored at the entrance to the Springside development.

Speaking at its unveiling, Sir Sean said: "The Fountainbridge of today is a very different area from that which I remember growing up in, many years ago. Then it was an industrial area which left a significant imprint on my life, as well as on the city of Edinburgh.

"Now it is a much more pleasant area in which to live, visit and work with new homes, offices, businesses and open spaces replacing the old factories and tenements. And I am sure that the community spirit I remember will be maintained throughout this transformation."

During his visit to Fountainbridge, Sir Sean met with community and business officials involved in the regeneration project, as well as representatives from the newly created Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) which brings together the city’s Filmhouse and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

He added: "I am honoured that the Centenary of Cinema plaque recognises my work in the world of film. And it is fitting that film, which has played such a major part in my life, will play an important role in the regeneration of Fountainbridge.

"For 25 years Edinburgh’s Filmhouse on Lothian Road has been at the heart of the area in which I grew up. As its activities expand, with the creation of the Centre for the Moving Image, it will continue to help change and improve the lives of people living and working here."

Sir Sean’s childhood home was located at 176 Fountainbridge, where he famously slept in the bottom drawer of a wardrobe until the arrival of his brother eight years later. The tenement block was condemned and demolished in the 1960s to make way for the expanding S&N operation, which is now being replaced by Springside, which is spearheaded by a joint venture company bringing together AMA Homes with Grosvenor and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

AMA Director, Dr Ali Afshar, said: "It is great honour to welcome Sir Sean back to his childhood home. Now is a good time to visit Fountainbridge and much has changed since he grew up there.

"Springside and other developments in the area are creating a new and vibrant community, replacing one that was lost to decades of heavy industry. Streets, walkways and open spaces are now linking together to give the area back its heart, and making it once again a vibrant part of Edinburgh’s city centre.

"But however good our homes, offices and open spaces are, it takes people to create genuine community spirit and we are working hard to integrate the area across all fronts. Celebrating Sir Sean’s achievement is one way of promoting Fountainbridge’s rich heritage, and we are delighted to be involved in the Centre of Moving Image which will provide a wonderful and lasting cultural focus for the area."

Sir Sean is currently staying in Edinburgh as part of his role as patron of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, which officially opened on Wednesday.