AMID the sombre pall cast over Glasgow in recent days it is hard to remember that a few months ago the city was swept up in the carnival spirit of the Commonwealth Games.

A BBC documentary which airs tomorrow recaptures the excitement of those 12 days in July and August when the city was bathed in "taps aff" conditions and the "friendly Games" put a smile on the faces of residents and visitors alike.

The hour-long programme, 'When the Games Came to Glasgow', follows the experiences of ordinary Glaswegians, from the Scots-Pakistani restaurateurs-turned-bowls competitors to the film student whose self-penned rap celebrating Glasgow life and its "patter" was one of the highlights of the opening ceremony.

Poignantly given the events of the last week, some of the spotlight falls on members of the city's cleansing department tasked with sprucing up Glasgow's streets and squares to make sure it looks its best for the tourist influx.

Pat, a proud Glaswegian operating one of the street-cleaning machines, quoted Billy Connolly to remark how his hometown had gone "from black and white to colour" over the last 30 years, culminating in the spectacle of the 2014 Games.

He says: "There's a carnival atmosphere in the city. People are stopping and asking for directions, people are very friendly, and that just makes your day go in quicker. I must admit I wish it was like this all the time."

The cleansing staff were among 10,000 council employees to go through "charm school" in the run-up to the Games, the documentary tells us, before showing a team dissolving into laughter as one of the younger employees, Jamie, is trained in customer service - in particular, taming the Glaswegian accent so as not to bamboozle tourists.

The show reminds viewers of the sheer buzz in the city during those heady summer days, when "every day is like a Saturday" as one bar owner notes as the pub and restaurant trade boomed.

Although, not all traders felt the benefit.

The documentary meets east end sweet shop owners, Irene and Julie, whose Glickman's shop was located at the start of both the marathon and cycling events. The women had repainted the shop in anticipation of a surge in customers, but were stymied by traffic and parking restrictions instead.

"We've gone to so much effort with the Commonwealth Games. We spent a lot of time painting, the preparations have been huge for the Commonwealth Games and it's just been hard work," says Julie.

It is a reminder that not everyone was a winner, but it is a chance to relive the highlights - from Hannah Miley's gold to Usain Bolt's relay - and remember the spirit and fun of Glasgow at its best.

'When the Games Came to Glasgow' airs on BBC Scotland at 6pm on December 28.