STAFF and students at a Glasgow college have been forced to endure freezing conditions after a heating fault.

The heating system and hot water supply at Glasgow Clyde College in Cardonald began experiencing difficulties on Monday but the campus remained open until Thursday.

As temperatures dropped to below -9 degrees, students reported being able to see their own breath and struggling to concentrate while having to continue with classes.

Students were eventually given permission to leave on Thursday, but staff were told they would have to stay on.

One student, who asked not to be named, said: “The college should be ashamed of how they have dealt with things and treated their staff and students.

“They have made students and staff endure freezing temperatures for four days.

“They let the nursery children away which left some students worried about bursaries. Some students could see their own breath in places of the building.

“The heating hasn’t been on at all for the last two days. We had minimum heat on Tuesday but they didn’t let students leave until Thursday.

“There has also been no hot water which means kitchen staff where using cold water to wash their hands, whilst working with raw and cooked food.

“They only shut the kitchen on Thursday which means food was contaminated without anyone’s knowledge.”

Linda Kelly, added: “Shocking how cold this place is, got an assessment and can’t even concentrate it's that cold.”

Anne Marie Thomson said: “Far too cold, can't get work done.”

Janet Thomson, Vice Principal Resources and College Development at Glasgow Clyde College: “Unfortunately, we have experienced heating issues this week in some areas of our Cardonald campus.

“An initial assessment indicated that the problem could be resolved quickly. Unfortunately, the issue was then compounded by a burst pipe, as soon as we were aware it was more serious, we cancelled classes in the affected areas, with non-essential staff and students being sent home.

“Some areas of the campus have been able to operate as normal.

"The main heating and hot water system at the Cardonald campus is now operational and checks have been carried out on the system. 

"The temperature continues to rise and hot water is available across the campus.

"We can now confirm that classes will operate on Friday (other than those previously confirmed as definitely not to attend on that day)."