THOUSANDS of people have signed a petition opposing anti-abortion protests outside Glasgow's new hospital.

The pro-life group 40 Days for Life claims it has been given permission, from both the health board and Police Scotland, to picket outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital throughout February and March during Lent.

A petition has now been signed by 3,296 people, calling for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Police Scotland to revoke this permission.

However, the health board said no permission had been granted for a protest on the grounds of the QEUH and any picket would have to take place outside the hospital.

Police Scotland said the group had been advised to, "stay within the law and be considerate of others."

Campaign director Rose Docherty, from Bishopbriggs, said the ‘peaceful, prayerful’ event was not a demonstration.

She said: "We will be there every day quietly praying, we won’t approach people, there won’t be graphic images. If someone wants to come and talk to us that’s fine.”

However opponents, who have launched the petition say the group's presence could cause distress to women "at a time of emotional distress and vulnerability." and staff accessing the hospital.

It comes less than a fortnight after the launch of a new anti-abortion campaign in Scotland to fight moves which it claims could see terminations legalised “up until the point of birth” when responsibility for the matter is handed to Holyrood.

The petition states: "We are asking that NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board & Police Scotland revoke this permission allowing both service users and staff to access the hospital safely.

"The unit they are targeting offers a full range of gynecological services, and these protests could cause distress not only to women in need of the abortion services (at a time of emotional distress and or vulnerability) but also staff and those accessing other services in the hospital.

"As stated by a British Pregnancy Advisory Service spokeswoman "the reality is women find running the gauntlet of anti-abortion activists intimidating.

" A group of strangers "witnessing" a woman as she accesses a confidential NHS service is a significant invasion of privacy. Anti-abortion groups are free to hold their vigils anywhere else.

"They should leave individual women who want to seek advice and care in privacy and dignity alone"

Forty Days was originally started in 2004 in Texas and has since spread to 25 countries. The international chairman of group will visit Glasgow to take part.

Forty Days has been accused of distributing medically inaccurate literature including claims abortion causes cancer and of direct women away from regulated health clinics to 'crisis pregnancy centres' run by pro-life groups.

A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: "No permission has been given for any gathering on the grounds of the QEUH.

"Any planned gathering has to be conducted outside hospital grounds to allow the hospital to function, and patients to attend, without disruption."