A VOLUNTEER clean-up force stormed an eyesore wasteland in Maryhill in a bid to stop flats being built there.

Activists from North Kelvinside Green Space Community Initiative donned rubber gloves and spruced up the dilapidated Clouston Street pitches, which are earmarked to be turned into 115 private flats.

The clean-up was the latest step in the North Kelvin Meadow Campaign, which aims to turn the former football pitches into a community-run park.

Douglas Peacock, chairman of the community initiative, said: "It was great to see so many people of all ages come out this weekend and help each other clean up the land.

"This was day one of taking practical steps to reclaim the land for the use of residents.

"Our hope is that the council will look with fresh eyes and see the potential for this land, as the local residents have."

Resident Karen Chung added: "The turn-out was great. It really proved the strength of feeling about this piece of land.

"We had a lovely clear sunny morning and, just as we finished, it started to rain and a rainbow emerged - which we like to think is a sign of good things for the North Kelvin Meadow Campaign."

The campaign was launched in October after Glasgow City Council rejected calls for the site - the size of two and a half football pitches - to be turned into a green space.

The sale of the site to developers New City Vision Ltd has been agreed.

Mr Peacock claims local residents overwhelmingly support the creation of a green space on the former pitches and oppose the sale.

The North Kelvinside Green Space Community Initiative is now taking steps to form into a formal association to take their battle forward.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "The sale of the former Clouston Street playing fields has already been agreed. Glasgow City Council is currently progressing through the legal details with the successful purchaser, New City Vision Ltd. The proposal includes a small park within the development - which was in line with the approved development brief.

"New City Vision Ltd was picked on the basis of their presenting the best financial offer and their design was the one that had most support at the community consultation day which the Council held.

"The capital receipt from the sale of the site is being used to fund the construction of a new playing facility at the corner of Queen Margaret Drive and Maryhill Road."