The lights are on and the engines are running for Scotland’s largest gathering of emergency service vehicles.

The free Blue Light Festival at Riverside Museum is taking place this weekend – and bosses hope to top last year’s record 20,000-strong crowds.

This year, from 11am on Saturday and Sunday, there will be more vehicles and emergency services attending and the introduction of a new, free children’s zone.

Archie Graham, chairman of Glasgow Life, said: “Riverside is already renowned for delighting visitors with some of the world’s finest cars, bikes, ship models and trams.

“This weekend we’re celebrating some of the most hard-working vehicles in Scotland, those which belong to the emergency services, together with the 
brave people who work aboard them, keeping us safe.”

With more than 60 different vehicles attending, visitors to this family event can discover more about the work front-line services do.

Youngsters can climb aboard the bikes, cars, trucks, engines and boats, and discover the equipment used by those people who keep us safe.

There will also be the opportunity meet some of the highly trained staff that deal with a wide range of emergencies across the country.

The Summer Beach at Riverside will remain in place throughout the weekend.

The Scottish Ambulance Service, Police Scotland, Water Rescue, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Heritage Trust, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Vintage Albion Black Maria, International Fire and Rescue, NHS Motorcycle Response Team, ScotsERVS Transport Team, Police Scotland Riverside Cycle Team and Mountain Rescue, among others, will all be present.
Also on show will be an impressive selection of vintage vehicles from the Museum’s own collection.

The fire engine collection at Glasgow Museums is the second largest in Scotland, and includes a 1928 Albion-Merryweather Pump Ladder, whose chassis was built in Albion Motors, Glasgow, a 1940 Dennis-Merryweather Turntable Ladder that was stationed at Govan fire station during the Second World War and a Leyland Firemaster Pump Escape, previously stationed near the Riverside Museum in Partick Fire Station.