CLEANSING workers have cleared out 120 tons of rubbish during a clean-up of the south side of Glasgow.

Environmental bosses targeted the Govanhill area in a month of action and removed 30 tons of waste each week.

A clampdown on fly-tippers and litter louts also led to more than 760 warning letters being issued.

Gordon Smith, co-ordinator of the Govanhill HUB, a group of agencies working in the area, said it was hoped the action would lead to a change in behaviour from the people who were causing the issue.

Glasgow City Council has been doing daily spot checks in the area and engaged 65 local people and school pupils to help clear back courts.

More than 3000 leaflets explaining how to dispose of waste were also delivered to homes in the area.

Mr Smith said the drive has had a positive impact so far, with a 20% drop in anti-social behaviour from a year ago.

The move is part of the EPIC (Enforcement, Prevention, Intelligence and Communication) initiative being run in Govanhill. Led by Police Scotland, it includes more than 20 agencies, including the city council.

It also ties with the Streets Ahead campaign of our sister paper the Evening Times, which aims to make the city a cleaner, brighter place.