SIX Glasgow allotments set up to help feed the city's hungry population during the Great War this summer celebrate 100 years of operation.

Kennyhill, Kelvinside, Merrylee, Queen's Park, Springburn and Victoria Park allotments were set up in 1917 during World War 1.

A century on they are still going strong and continue to provide food for the people who tend them.

Catriona Morrison has a plot at Springburn and is an active member of Glasgow Allotments Forum.

She said: "It is difficult now to imagine the war time hardships the people of Glasgow were going through in 1917.

"We are delighted we are keeping the allotment tradition alive and celebrating a century of food growing on our sites."

In 1917, a special committee of the city council was given the job of increasing food production and laying out garden plots for no more than £1000.

Ms Morrison said: "We think 100 years on that the original £1000 was well spent as we look forward to the next 100 years."

In the next few weeks, Kennyhill, Merrylee, Springburn and Victoria Park allotments will be opening their gates from noon until 3pm as part of their birthday celebrations.

Springburn and Victoria Park will open on Saturday, Kennyhill on August 26 and Merrylee on September 2.

Each event will feature displays about the history of the allotments and visitors will be able to enjoy baking, jams, refreshments, home baking as well as fruit and vegetables grown on the allotments.

Richard Sharp of Victoria Park Allotment Association said: "We are delighted to reach our 100th birthday and to have survived this long which is testament to the hard work of our committees and plot holders down the years.

"We hope as many members of the public will come along to enjoy the sites and join in with the celebration of Glasgow's allotment heritage."

Anna Richardson, the city council's convener for sustainability and carbon reduction, said the 100th anniversaries showed allotments are far from a new idea.

She added: "Even today, they are a healthy, positive and sustainable focus in many of our communities.

"I am sure the plots reaching their century this year have given scores of Glaswegians a great deal of enjoyment over the decades and that in today's growers, they remain in safe hands for the next 100 years."