DISCARDED needles have been discovered outside one of the East End's busiest rail hubs.

Bellgrove Station, and other areas in and around Dennistoun have seen an increase in discarded needles and drug paraphernalia according to local councillors Allan Casey and Jennifer Layden.

The pair say they have received several reports about the drug-related litter which prompted them to do a walkabout in the area.

Councillor Casey said: "This is something that has been highlighted to myself on a number of occasions. I have been working with colleagues in Community Safety Glasgow and Police Scotland to try and address the issues raised.

"We have arranged for extra street work and engagement in this area to work with any drug users who are publicly injecting and to signpost them to various services which are available to them.”

He added: "In cases where drug paraphernalia has been found the Community Safety Glasgow Rapid Response team have been deployed to clear the areas immediately.”

"Myself and Councillor Jenifer Layden have also visited sites which have been reported to us to ensure they have been made safe.

“In terms of a more long-term strategy, this is yet again another issue which highlights the urgent need for Glasgow to be given the support of the UK Government to open a safe injecting facility in the city to help those people who need it most.”

The Evening Times previously reported that the UK Government has accepted the benefits of a safe drug injecting room for Glasgow but is still refusing to give it the go ahead.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Due to the obvious concern created by discarded needles, our staff have visited the site and disposed of the needles appropriately.

“Addressing the impact of drug-related litter is a key part of the proposal to open a safer drug consumption facility and heroin assisted treatment programme in Glasgow.

“Allowing those affected by addiction to inject drugs in a controlled setting would help to ensure that used needles are discarded safely and immediately.”