Repairs in aftermath of Rangers fans' George Square antics to cost more than £50k
The cost of cleaning up and repairing the square is at £58k and will rise.
Cleaning and repairing George Square after the gathering of Rangers fans earlier this month has cost nearly £60,000.
Hundreds of plants were ruined, thousands of glass shards and broken bottles had to be removed and graffiti cleaned from statues.
Fans descended on the city centre on the afternoon Rangers were handed the Scottish Premiership trophy following a 4-0 win over Aberdeen.
But the celebrations turned to riots and clashes with police, with chairs and traffic cones being lobbed in the direction of officers.
Glasgow City Council workers remarkably managed to get the area back in it's normal state for the next morning, but the statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert need repairs that could each cost more than £10,000.
A spokesman for the council said: “A substantial clear-up operation was required in George Square following the events of May 15. A huge amount of rubbish was lifted, glass from thousands of broken bottles removed and substantial amounts of graffiti cleaned away.
“Hundreds of plants were also destroyed, scaffolding and traffic lights damaged, benches and security fences broken beyond repair and lighting for the Sir Walter Scott column smashed up. In the immediate aftermath of the events of May 15, we deployed some 80 members of staff to undertake an initial clear-up and they worked throughout that first night to put the square back in some kind of order for the rest of the city, but work continued throughout the following week and has still to conclude.
“We have also checked all the statues in the square and found that the statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert require significant repairs. The Queen Victoria statue failed a topple test and is now fenced off to protect it from any further damage. These two statues are priceless sculptures that are emblematic of Glasgow’s proud history and will now require skilled restoration work.
“Those responsible for trashing George Square on May 15 have dumped a massive bill on Glasgow and then simply walked away. The complete lack of regard and respect they showed for Glasgow’s main civic space on May 15 is a source of deep dismay and disappointment.”