A bid to open a drug checking centre in Glasgow has been sent to the Home Office for approval.

The facility would allow people who use drugs to take in a sample and have it tested and analysed.

The centre would be alongside the new Safer Drug Consumption Facility at Hunter Street in the east end.

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The council said the move is part of the overall harm reduction plan for the city.

An application for a licence has been submitted to the Home Office and the Scottish Government has approved £1m funding for sites in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee.

Allan Casey, city convener for workforce, homelessness and addiction services, said: “Being able to test drug samples on site will give staff the opportunity to engage with service users about what they're using and provide harm-reduction advice and support.”

The SDCF is expected to be open this year and staff have been recruited with training about to start.

Christina McKelvie, drug and alcohol minister visited the site of the proposed new facility.

She said drug-checking capability was needed as there are hazardous substances present in the drug supply.

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She said: “Drug-checking facilities would enable us to respond faster to emerging drug trends – which is particularly important given the presence of highly dangerous, super-strong synthetic opioids like nitazenes in an increasingly toxic and unpredictable drug supply.

"These increase the risk of overdose, hospitalisation and death, and are being found in a range of substances.”

She added: “This facility is not a silver bullet. But we know from evidence from more than 100 facilities worldwide that they work.”