GLASGOW universities are offering lecturers extra time off to volunteer for the Commonwealth Games.

Strathclyde and Glasgow have confirmed staff will be able to get additional days off, as well as using days from their annual leave to volunteer at Glasgow 2014.

Volunteers are required to be available for eight days during the Games between July 23 and August 3, 2014.

At Glasgow, staff will need to use at least four days' annual leave, but the employer will match this and give staff an extra four days' leave to cover the Games.

Strathclyde is offering staff up to three additional days' leave in a similar agreement.

Dave Anderson, branch president at the University and College Union at Glasgow, said: "Allowing staff to take additional leave days will hopefully encourage employees to volunteer and contribute to making the Glasgow Games a huge success."

Professor Anton Muscatelli, inset, the principal and vice-chancellor of Glasgow University, said: "We are determined to do all that we can to allow staff to enjoy the Games and, if they wish, to take an active part as volunteers."

A spokesperson from Strathclyde said: "It is important that university employees and students alike are able to contribute to the success of the Games."