STRATHCLYDE police is to start using sniffer dogs to stop football fans carrying smoke bombs and flares into matches.

The news comes less than 48 hours after flares and smoke bombs were set off in the crowd at the Glasgow Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox.

Police are now warning fans they will be arrested if they are caught with flares.

Dogs trained to detect the smell of the powder used in flares and smoke bombs will be deployed outside the ground for this weekend's Motherwell v Celtic league match at Fir Park.

Chief Inspector Kenny Swan, match commander, said: "Over the course of this season, there have been a number of incidents where smoke bombs or flares have been set off during the matches. This leads to obvious safety issues.

"On Sunday, officers will be in attendance with the dogs. Anyone caught with the smoke bombs or flares will be arrested.

"I would urge people to act responsibly and not bring these items to the ground."

An investigation is under way into the incident in the Broomloan Road stand at the Glasgow Cup Final on Monday night.

A police spokesman said: "A small number of smoke bombs were set off by the Celtic support in the West Stand at Ibrox."

Police confirmed that a 15-year-old boy had been reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with the flare incident.

There have been other incidents involving Scots clubs.

Last December a flare was thrown on the pitch during Celtic's away Europa League tie against Udinese.

And an East Fife supporter was banned from attending matches and fined after setting off a flare in Aberdeen city centre.

Stuart Bell, 19, of Leven, set the flare in a street before his side's Scottish Cup tie against Aberdeen in January 2011.

He later pleaded guilty to culpable and reckless conduct and was fined £400. He was also banned for 15 months from attending any SPL or SFL matches.

deborah.anderson@eveningtimes.co.uk