STRATHCLYDE Police will today take the highly unusual step of asking Glasgow councillors to re-route an Orange walk because of the ''very high'' risk of violence.

Officers fear Protestant followers of the Rising Stars of Bridgeton Royal Black Preceptory 672 and Thornliebank Pride of the Village Flute Band will be involved in ''serious disorder'' if they march along the predominantly Catholic Gallowgate on Saturday.

With a 6pm start, the march coincides with the return of hundreds of Celtic supporters to the street's bars after the first day of the football season.

Fighting between Orange walk followers and locals in the same area last month was described by police as ''hate-filled bigotry of the most vile nature''.

The force had asked the organiser of this weekend's walk, Ian Robertson of Rutherglen, to avoid the Gallowgate. However Mr Robertson refused.

Assistant Chief Constable Ricky Gray has now written to councillors asking them to impose a change, in which the 50 or so marchers would be diverted down Saltmarket and along the edge of Glasgow Green. Mr Gray told The Herald yesterday that he could not recall the last police request for a change to a march in Glasgow, although one was banned in Wishaw in the last year.

However, he said intervention may become more frequent ''given the focus of public opinion and political opinion on what are perceived as sectarian marches''.

In a four-page letter to today's public processions committee, Mr Gray said that although as a matter of general principle the police would not ask for a change, this particular march gave him ''grave concern''.

The letter continues: ''In my respectful opinion, the prospect of disorder breaking out of a significant extent and level is such that the proper balancing process would require a rerouting of the procession.''

He stressed he did not expect trouble from the official procession, but from ''the hangers-on and others who might wish to confront them, possibly with violent intent''.

Last year, the same walk led to a stand-off between band members and the police and three arrests after one man started swearing at a bystander in a green T-shirt who was staring at the parade.

There was more serious trouble on the Gallowgate last month during a walk by the Loyal Orange Lodge District 37. Despite the band agreeing in advance to avoid the street, around 150 of its followers tried to walk down it, prompting a battle with around 50 people from nearby pubs.

More than 60 police officers with batons were called in to end the fighting, and there were six arrests. One female officer was punched in the face.

Mr Gray summed up the scene as ''a confrontation which was largely sectarian in origin and (which) displayed hate-filled bigotry of the most vile nature''.

David Stevenson, councillor for the local Calton ward, said the recent trouble meant the police were right to try and re-route this Saturday's march and suggested the Gallowgate should be off-limits to Orange walks in future. He said: ''This is a very unusual measure. But at the end of the day police have a responsibility for public safety. They are better being safe than sorry. I also think future marches should avoid the Gallowgate.''

Earlier this year, a Glasgow City Council survey into sectarianism found most residents felt the city suffered from a culture of bigotry and religious prejudice.

Mr Robertson was unavailable for comment.