WEIGHTLIFTERS from an East End club met the Queen and Prince Philip when they visited Glasgow.

The Gladiators, which promotes weightlifting in the area, won the Queens Award for Voluntary Services in 2005.

They have delivered physical activity and top international sport success to the city for the past 27 years.

Gladiators were the only community sport group to meet the royal couple.

Members of the European club team brought back eight medals from competitions in Austria this summer.

All the champions are from different age groups.

The seniors are working towards the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the school-age champions are working towards the 2018 Olympic Youth Games.

Chief executive Alex Richardson said: "On behalf of all the young people of Glasgow that enjoy all our services past and present, we were delighted to have the honour to feature as part of the Queen's diamond celebration visit to Glasgow."

TWO young performers are coming to the East End as part of a new tour.

Kieran Hurley's Hitch and Gary McNair's Crunch will stop off at Platform in Easterhouse on Saturday October 13 at 7pm.

Glasgow writer, performer and theatre maker Kieran will invite audiences to join him as he tells of hitching a lift from Glasgow to L'Aquila, Italy, in 2009 for the G8 summit there.

Crunch, by Gary NcNair, who is also based in Glasgow, is a comedy about the value of money.

The 12-day tour starts on Thursday, September 27. Tickets are available from the Arches Box Office on 0141 565 1000 or at www.thearches.co.uk

GLASGOW Girls Football Club senior team are hosting a music night to raise money for new kit.

The team have organised a top Michael Bublé tribute act to sing some of his greatest hits as well as games and prizes for the event on Friday, September 7 in Millers Bar function suite, Budhill Square, Springboig, from 7.30pm and midnight.

All proceeds will go towards a new white Adidas strip for the senior team.

Tickets cost £5. For details, visit www.glasgowgirlsfc.com

YOUNG musicians in the East End are invited to attend special sessions to improve their skills.

The courses, which are for 14 to 19-year-olds who want to pursue a career in the music industry, will take place at Fuse Youth Cafe, Shettleston, and Innerzone in Wellhouse.

They will run monthly until June next year.

For further information, visit www.musicplus.org.uk