HARDENED street drinkers have been causing a stink in Glasgow city centre — by defacating and urinating at the side of the pavement in broad daylight.

Glasgow City Council has been forced to deep clean the pavements at Hielanman’s Umbrella multiple times following the “disgusting behaviour”.

Small groups men and women regularly congregate and brazenly drink alcohol.

But awareness is now growing of them relieving themselves at will in public, just yards from fast food outlets and coffee shops.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “We are working closely with partners including Police Scotland and Community Safety Glasgow as part of a multi-agency response to tackle antisocial behaviour in this location.

“CCTV is being used to identify the culprits and enforcement action taken.

“Glasgow City Council has had to deep clean the area on four occasions recently due to disgusting behaviour by a small number of individuals.”

Puddles of soapy water marked the sections where just today (Monday) a clean-up had taken place, on three separate sections of the pavement.

A woman was sat on the ground next to the water, just a short walk from another trio with begging cups outside Tim Horton’s sitting in the sun.

On a daily basis there are groups of street drinkers lingering in the area.

It is understood those responsible are not homeless but seasoned street drinkers.

A Knightswood pensioner, who asked his name to be hidden out of fear of retaliation, told how he witnessed a man doing the toilet on the pavement twice.

The 76-year-old said: “For the second time in weeks, my wife and I have witnessed two members of the band of people who squat under the bridge, often under the influence of drink and drugs, urinating in the busy street.

“Just the other day, a woman companion of was standing on front of this guy in a pathetic attempt to hide what he was doing.

“This was literally yards from the station entrance and also only yards from fastfood shops.

“How long can this behaviour be tolerated?”

Police Scotland says it is dealing with the criminality “as appropriate”.

A spokeswoman said: “We continue to work with partners to address some of the societal issues associated within Glasgow city centre.

“Officers regularly patrol the city centre and any antisocial behaviour, drug misuse and other criminality is dealt with as appropriate.”