WORK is expected to begin today replacing the hated red surface of George Square with grey resin.

As part of the £500,000 scheme experts will also start cleaning the historic statues which take pride of place in the area.

All the statues, with the exception of Sir Walter Scott, will get new floodlighting.

Lighting the statue of the Scottish author, which sits at the top of the tall stone plinth in the middle of the square, will be carried out at a later date.

It is expected to be September before the improvement project is completed, the hoardings are taken down and the public allowed back.

Council bosses have insisted the square must be back in full use by Remembrance Sunday in November.

A council spokesman said: "Work will start on laying the surface starting at the Cenotaph end with timescales for completion dependant on weather conditions. All of the new floodlighting and the majority of the dedicated statue lighting is now in place with the cleaning of the statues due to begin this week."

Council leader Gordon Matheson had hoped the square would get a £15million revamp in time for the Commonwealth Games.

An international design competition was held and a scheme by Glasgow-born architect John McAslan was announced as the winner.

But within minutes, Mr Matheson said the council would not go ahead with the design.

vivienne.nicoll@eveningtimes.co.uk