A YEAR ago a freak accident stunned the world and changed Glasgow forever.

On Friday November 29, 2013, as people were in the Clutha Vaults Bar, enjoying a Friday night of music, a police helicopter crashed through the roof.

The aircraft, with WPC Kirsty Nelis, PC Tony Collins and pilot David Traill on board, was on a regular flight path over the city when the catastrophe happened.

On the night, the popular Clydeside pub was packed with regulars listening to local ska favourites, Esperanza.

As the helicopter plunged out of the sky and hit the Clutha, passers-by stopped in their tracks, refusing to believe the evidence of their own eyes.

For a second, all was still. And then the spirit that is Glasgow took hold.

Without a thought for their own safety, people rushed towards to bar, helping to pull dazed and confused revellers from the mess of rubble and stoor.

People with dust-blackened faces bravely went back inside to find and rescue the injured.

They selflessly ignored the risks and went in time after time.

More than 100 people were inside when tragedy struck at 10.25pm.

Ten people died in the incident, many others sustained terrible injuries, there were dozens of walking wounded, some dazed, others in tears as they realised the true horror of the scene.

And then the emergency services arrived and quickly took control, doing the job they were trained to do but hope to never have to put into practise.

As arc lights lit up the night sky, the horror of seeing the helicopter, half- on the roof fully took hold.

That night and into Saturday, more and more people made their way to the disaster site, some just to rubberneck, others in a desperate search for missing pals or relatives.

Throughout it all, local businesses stepped in; delivering food to the rescuers and accommodation to those left homeless. Ministers and priests gave spiritual help, while local and national politicians promised help in whatever way was possible.

Almost immediately, offers of money started arriving, and the Clutha Fund was set up.

A massive fundraising effort began. In the end, £500,000 was raised for the survivors and the families of the victims.

It was a small offering to help people rebuild their broken lives.

The year saw survivors recover from terrible, life changing injuries and psychological traumas.

But the people who took part in the rescue and those who treated them have also had to overcome flashbacks and reminders.

Many have received counselling and have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

Some still find it hard to talk about that night.

However, what they have all discovered is that Glasgow looks after its own

On this year's anniversary of the disaster - Saturday November 29 - some will avoid the city centre, so powerful and distressing are their memories.

Others will be comforted in the knowledge that there are many people who care and will never forget how the city pulled together that fateful night and in the days that followed.

A service will be held at Glasgow Cathedral and private acts of remembrance will take place across the city. It will be a time for reflection but also a chance to look to the future.

l Over the next 10 days we will tell the stories of the families devastated by loss, the survivors still struggling to come to terms with the horror of that night and the emergency services who spent days at the scene.

We will also look at how the people and city of Glasgow did what they do best; helping, supporting, guiding, and trying to make life return to normal once again.