CALLS are being made for a Glasgow foodbank to be stripped of its charitable status following a probe over financial irregularities.

Local councillor Billy McAllister said he had written to Scottish Charity Regular OSCR urging action over Greater Maryhill Foodbank.

Mr McAllister has also called on the board of trustees of Greater Maryhill Foodbank and founder Julie Webster to resign.

It comes after Glasgow City Council said that no further grant awards would be made to the foodbank, following a whistleblowing complaint and an investigation.

It follows repeated requests for information to founder Julie Webster about accounts which the council said had not been provided. Police Scotland said it was also investigating a complaint.

Mr McAllister said: "Given the recent recommendations from Glasgow City Council's internal audit dept that the council should not fund Maryhill foodbank because of accounts discrepancies, I have called on the board to resign along with Miss Webster. Their position has become untenable.

"OSCR should step in now given the finding of the internal audit investigation and strip them of their charities status."

Mr McAllister has also claimed that people from the Milton area have been denied access to the foodbank, although this has been denied by Ms Webster.

It has emerged that the foodbank was recently given £40,000 by the Scottish Government.

The Government, which has had a long association with the organisation, insisted it was monitoring the funding "to ensure grant agreements and conditions are met".

The foodbank was investigated earlier this year by the charity regulator and the police over donations received following a break-in, in February.

Donations of about £15,000 were collected after Ms Webster fronted a TV appeal for families affected by a hit and run accident which left Maryhill girl Sophie Brannan dead.

A probe was launched after questions were asked about what the cash was spent on. The charity regular ruled that the actions of the foodbank were, “consistent with the general duties that they are subject to” but made a number of recommendations.

A statement issued by the board of GMF on Facebook said: "The current Board of GMF believe that we are the subject of a concerted campaign by certain individuals aiming to discredit the work of the foodbank and the persons involved in it; that much of this is personal and directed at our Coordinator Julie Webster.

"The board of Trustees strongly refutes all allegations and insinuations of wrongdoing by anyone connected to GMF."