POLLOK Country Park in the South Side of Glasgow has been named best park in Europe.

VIDEOS play automatically. Use the play/ pause button to view individually

POLLOK Country Park in the South Side of Glasgow has been named best park in Europe.

It beat off tough competition from parks in Poland, France, Italy, Sweden and Germany to clinch the top prize.

Last year the park - run by Glasgow City Council - was named the best park in Britain and it has now became the first UK park to win the European award.

Land and environment executive spokeswoman Ruth Simpson said: "The Dear Green Place is celebrated for its parks and green spaces and this accolade simply confirms Pollok Country Park is a unique place of natural beauty.

"I would like to pay tribute to all the staff who have helped us win this award."

Pollok is at the centre of controversy as pressure on the council grows to veto plans by adventure firm Go Ape to create a treetop playground.

Councillors are due to consider a planning application in the next couple of weeks but it is believed they've already received hundreds of objections.

Land and environment executive director Robert Booth welcomed news of the award as "fantastic".

He said: "We take great pride in our parks and this award is testament to what we are doing.

"There is a mix of high quality amenities in Pollok including plenty of open space for a walk in the woods, a mountain bike trail, the countryside rangers' centre, the Burrell and Pollok House and hopefully Go Ape."

Pollok was judged against criteria including environment, access, maintenance and community involvement for the Europe's best park award, which is organised by international power products group Briggs & Stratton USA.

Vincent Bowden, director of marketing for Briggs & Stratton Europe, said: "Everything about the park, including its close links with the community and diverse environment made it a worthy winner of the title."

The park, which each year attracts 2million visitors, boasts Pollok House, the ancestral home of the Maxwell family who founded the Forestry Commission and the National Trust for Scotland, as well as the Burrell Museum which showcases a collection of priceless art.

Ian Small, head of UK sales for Briggs and Stratton, said: "The competition is an important opportunity to say a public thank you to the hard working people who keep our public parks in such excellent condition."

Pollok Country Park, which is the home to the council's award-winning herd of Highland cows, extends over 361 acres and opened in 1911.