THE Kingston Bridge in Glasgow is to become the unusual location for a dramatic new series of art works.

THE Kingston Bridge in Glasgow is to become the unusual location for a dramatic new series of art works.

Street artist Sam Bates has been commissioned to paint nine murals of sportsmen and women on the bridge's support columns.

One has already been completed and shows a grim-faced speed cyclist going for gold.

The outline of a pole-vaulter can be seen on another one of the giant concrete columns and further works will include hockey, swimming, lawn bowls, running, gymnastics and netball.

The focus on sport ties in with Glasgow winning the race to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Sam, 25, is responsible for the stunning murals round the controversial Selfridges' site in the Merchant City.

He first tackled a 50ft work on hoardings in Wilson Street and last year was commissioned to create a 100ft artwork along the section fronting Candleriggs.

They have been left virtually untouched by graffiti yobs, so bosses of the Clean Glasgow campaign decided to repeat the exercise at the bridge.

A city council spokesman said: "This is a part of the city which regularly suffers from graffiti so it was decided to put up murals as an anti-graffiti measure.

"We were looking for a theme for the murals and as the Commonwealth Games are in people's minds at the moment, it was decided to go for a sporting theme."

The nine artworks are costing £3200 but each year the council pays a massive £1million to remove graffiti.

Anderston/City councillor Gordon Matheson was responsible for coming up with the brainwave for the Merchant City mural and welcomed the new project at the Kingston Bridge.

He said: "Street art is a million miles away from the mindless vandalism of yobs who deface our city with spray paint graffiti.

"I support the increased use of street art at appropriate locations, provided it is properly managed."

Sam, who is from the city's West End, beat competitors from around the globe for the privilege of creating the first Selfridges' mural.

Entries came from as far afield as New York and Australia and gained Glasgow a reputation in the Big Apple as a forward-thinking, vibrant city.