A NEW bid has been launched to host a full marathon in Glasgow for the first time in more than 30 years.

Glasgow Life has been approached by an un-named group which wants to see the event re-instated.

The 26.2 mile race was launched in 1978 and continued until 1987 when numbers greatly decline. It was changed to a half marathon in 1988.

Hundreds of people backed an online campaign to bring the marathon back to the streets of the city but with no success.

But a group is making a new attempt to hold a marathon in Scotland’s largest city.

A spokesman for Glasgow Life, said: “We have received a proposal from a third party expressing an interest to hold a marathon event in the city.

“As with all such proposals, this will be considered by the city’s event board in due course.”

Insiders say the cost of staging a marathon is prohibitive and is it likely the city’s focus will remain on current running events including the Women’s 10k and the Great Scottish Run.

A professional marathon was last run in Glasgow as part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

John Mackay, secretary of Shettleston Harriers backed the move to re-introduce a Glasgow marathon.

He said: “Edinburgh has one and I think there would be a lot of interest in a marathon here.

“The half marathon is very popular and I think a Glasgow marathon would encourage lots of people to get involved in sport.

“We have got two guys who came to Shettleston Harriers off the street and went on to become Scottish internationalists.”

Mr Mackay accepted there would be a cost to staging the event but insisted it would be worth it.

He said: “It would be worth it for the health and wellbeing of the city. It would also attract people from all over the world and hotels would be full so there would be an economic spin-off.”