A WOODLAND park is to be created at a cost of £5 million on a derelict site opposite the Commonwealth Games' Athletes Village in Glasgow's East End.

The land, at a bend in the River Clyde known as Cuningar Loop, has lain derelict for more than half-a-century.

Between 1810 and 1860 it was the location of several reservoirs that provided water to all of Glasgow.

It has also been used for quarrying and mining, and is where rubble from the demolition of large areas of the Gorbals was dumped into landfill.

Clyde Gateway, the regeneration agency, and Forestry Commission Scotland plans to transform the eyesore into a 37-acre park that will be used by more than 100,000 people a year.

A new pedestrian bridge will link the woodland directly into the Athletes Village, which will be converted into housing for the public after the Commonwealth Games.

The new park, which will be in South Lanarkshire, will be close to Rutherglen and directly across the river from Parkhead and Dalmarnock.

Tom Wallace, who is project manager for the plan, said about 15,000 trees would be planted.

He said: "The majority of the trees will be planted this winter and we are hoping to get the community involved."