A MUM-of-four has campaigned to turn a city landmark blue in aid of a national awareness day

Alison Neil, 37, contacted Hydro bosses to ask for the colour change to the stand-out venue on World Autism awareness day this Thursday.

Three of her four children are autistic and the 37-year-old wants to help raise as much awareness of the condition as possible.

The Hydro will be one of more than 7,000 landmarks across the globe switching its lights blue as part of the Light it up Blue initiative set up by American charity Autism Speaks.

Alison said: "I decided to do it to make the Hydro a bit like the Empire State Building, which has been blue for the last six years.

"It's in line for World Autism Awareness day and the whole thing started off in America with the Light It Up Blue campaign.

"The pyramids have even been blue, lots of different buildings. across the world have been doing it for six years.

" I thought as they had changed [The Hydro] pink for breast cancer awareness month and green for St. Patrick's day I would ask about changing the colour on Thursday.

"I felt brilliant when they said they'd do it, as I've never done anything like that before. I think it will help other people become aware of autism."

Three of Alison's children - Liam, 16, and 12-year-old twins Erin and Aiden, all have autism and her youngest son Anthony, 4, is also on the verge of a diagnosis.

Alison said the condition is often overlooked by people who do not have experience of it and they get the impression children are misbehaving.

"I think because it's an invisible disability, you can't see it. " she added.

"People with autism...you can't tell if they have meltdown sometimes, which happens in adults and children.

"People just think they're a naughty child or something.

"They don't tend t think it could be autism or even something else.

"If I'm out shopping for example I just need to hear a noise and I know the child has autism, sometimes I've offered parents a bit of support as well."

A SSE Hydro spokeswoman said: "We were delighted to turn The SSE Hydro blue on Thursday 2nd April to mark World Autism Day and raise awareness."

A spokesperson for the National Autistic Society Scotland said: "The blue light campaign was set up by Autism Speaks. Although we have no formal links to that organisation, we welcome any initiative that raises awareness of autism in effort to improve understanding and support for those that have the condition in local communities across the country."