GLASGOW has seen off a host of international cities to secure one of the world's most prestigious medical conferences.

Scotland's largest city will welcome more than 3,000 delegates in 2020 for the Congress of International Academy of Pathology, after winning the bid against the cities of Beijing, in China, Singapore and Cancun, in Mexico.

It will be the first time that the conference has been held in the UK since its inauguration, with previous host cities including Cape Town in South Africa, Montreal in Canada and Brisbane, Australia.

The conference, to be staged at the SECC, will inject around £5 million into the local economy and secure some 15,000 hotel room nights, providing a welcome boost to the city's hotels, restaurants, shops, bars and other businesses.

The announcement was made by the International Academy of Pathology board at the meeting's 30th annual congress, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand.

The city's bid, which won by a clear majority, was delivered in partnership with the British Division of the International Academy of Pathology and the European Society of Pathology, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) and the SECC.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "Securing such an established and world renowned meeting, at a time when global competition in the market is incredibly fierce, is fantastic news for Glasgow."

Professor Ray McMahon, Honorary Consultant Pathologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary and Secretary General-designate of the International Academy of Pathology, added: "The British Division of the International Academy of Pathology, including the UK, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands, is delighted to have been successful in our bid for the congress.

"We look forward to planning for 2020 and getting more than 3000 pathologists from around the world to Glasgow."