THE Evening Times has been praised at the Labour Party Conference for its role in the Clean Glasgow campaign.

Speaking in a local government debate, city council leader Steven Purcell told delegates in Bournemouth the newspaper had played a vital role in supporting the authority's campaign.

He said the efforts were proving successful because they weren't just targeting the city centre.

The initiative had been rolled out to other areas and had gained the support and involvement of local people.

Since the launch of the £4million Clean Glasgow campaign in February, around 3000 volunteers have taken part in organised events all over the city.

More than 4000 fines have been handed out to litter louts. But when asked if this was not an attack on the poor, Mr Purcell said: "This is not a class issue.

"Rich or poor, people know this is an offence which we are tackling, and Glasgow is becoming a cleaner place because of it."

Mr Purcell said afterwards he believed councils from other parts of the UK would now be studying the lessons learned in Glasgow.

brian.currie@eveningtimes.co.uk