Glasgow City Council have gifted UNICEF Clyde, which featured in the city during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, to children's charity UNICEF to help raise funds for their Put Children First appeal.

The UNICEF mascot was located in the city's St Enoch Square and was visited and enjoyed by thousands of people over the summer.

The mascot will be auctioned off and proceeds from the sale will go to help the poorest and most excluded children in Scotland and throughout the Commonwealth.

UNICEF Clyde formed part of Clyde's Trail of 25 unique life-sized fibreglass statues which were designed by Glasgow schoolchildren and located at sites across the city.

Children and young people were asked to come up with a range of Glasgow inspired outfits for Clyde as part of a legacy project run earlier this year by Glasgow City Council and Glasgow 2014 in partnership with UNICEF.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "The best-ever Commonwealth Games broke new ground on a number of levels, including its innovative philanthropic partnership with children's charity, UNICEF.

"Part of the lasting legacy of this partnership is the £5 million raised during the 11 day sporting spectacular. On behalf of the city, I am delighted that Glasgow City Council is donating UNICEF Clyde to UNICEF so that he will be given a new home and that the funds raised for the Put Children First appeal will benefit children around the Commonwealth in a range of ways."

UNICEF's Commonwealth Games Project Director, Tom Burstow, added "We are immensely grateful to everyone who has backed our campaign. With this latest support from Glasgow City Council we will be able to save and transform even more children's lives across the Commonwealth and in Scotland. The generosity of the people of Glasgow and beyond has helped us achieve something never done before. Together we have shown that we can and will always Put Children First."

Clyde's Trail was a key part of a major programme of activity by Glasgow City Council to dress Glasgow for the Games - creating a vibrant, fun and inspiring environment for residents, visitors, spectators, athletes, officials and the world's media.

The programme also included the Big G in George Square, giant floral Clyde's at Glasgow Green and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and a wooden Clyde located in Queen's Park.

UNICEF Clyde is the only one of the 25 mascots to be gifted from Clyde's Trail.

Glasgow City Council is looking into new homes for the statues that made up Clyde's Trail, which will ensure they remain on show to the public.

An announcement on this is expected to be made soon.