LOCALS have slammed litter louts who have clogged up a Southside greenspace risking harm to bird life.

Pictures shared on social media show potentially dangerous plastic bags floating in the pond near swans in Richmond Park.

The water in the Oatlands park is also clogged with bread and other foodstuffs.

Friends of Richmond Park had called for Avanti Homes and Glasgow City Council to sort the situation.

Now a council squad has attended at the park on Friday to remove food waste and litter that had floated in and built up around the edge of the pond there.

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A council spokesperson said rakes were used to lift the detritus out the water, which is home to a swan population.

The new team who started work today, the spokesperson added, have been given the same instruction to check and do the same at regular intervals. 

Locals put calls out on social media for support in keeping the pond clean as they said their calls for help had gone unheard.

Resident Melissa Gillen wrote on Twitter that the situation was "urgent" and added: "Wildlife is suffering".

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A woman who lives near the park and walks her dogs there said: "It has been absolutely appalling recently.

"There was so much bread in the pond that it looked like floating bread and butter pudding - but not one you would ever want to eat.

"Absolutely manky does not begin to describe it.

"People must stop trying to feed the swans. The birds shouldn't eat bread and it becomes a breeding ground for rats."

Local councillor Soryia Siddique had called for the council to step in and clean up the park.

But she added that people using the park must stop littering and start cleaning up after themselves.

She said: "Concerns regarding food and rubbish discarded in Richmond Park Pond and impacting wildlife were raised with Glasgow City Council.

"I am pleased the council has confirmed it has instructed the rubbish to be cleared from the pond.

"It is important that wildlife is protected from any forms of pollution.

"But this requires people to follow the rules and not to pollute the pond."