Fed-up residents have blasted calls by a health board to put up parking meters on their streets to ease congestion.

Householders who live near Glasgow's Southern General Hospital say NHS staff and visitors are stealing their parking spaces to dodge fees introduced in March.

They say the council can't even empty their bins because double-parked cars are blocking entry for refuse lorries at Hardgate Place in Shieldhall.

And they fear the parking problem could also put lives risk if emergency services can't get through.

The health board has admitted illegally parked cars are causing disruption for residents and has vowed to report any staff caught parking illegally to the police. But its suggestion that Glasgow City Council should extend parking controls to the surrounding streets to tackle the problem has been met with an angry response from the community.

Residents say it's the health board's charges which have caused the problem in the first place.

David Halliday, 56, of Hardgate Drive, said: "If they introduce charges to the streets, drivers won't pay them and it will just force more cars into our estate. The easiest solution is for the health board to suspend charges.

"There is no traffic management in place at the moment. Cleansing can't empty our bins and some residents can't park near their homes."

Robert Rae, 67, of Hardgate Place, said: "You've got consultants parking their big Mercs and I've had to tell them they are causing an obstruction.

"The bins haven't been emptied for two weeks now and they are overflowing onto the street.

"It's happened about five times since the parking charges came in."

A council spokeswoman said: "Since day one we have had major problems accessing Hardgate Place and are monitoring the area with a view to finding some sort of solution."

Residents and councillors are calling on Health Secretary and Govan MSP Nicola Sturgeon to suspend charges at the Southern until a public consultation takes places on the full impact of the charges.

The parking problem is affecting residents who live in Linthouse, Earlston Park and the Luma Building.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde want the council to extend parking controls to the streets outside the hospital to help ease the problem.

A spokeswoman said: "NHSGGC has pledged to co-operate fully with the local authority and police to identify any staff who are parking illegally outwith the Southern General site and causing problems for local residents.

"NHSGGC would also be supportive of any proposals by the city council to extend parking controls to the streets around the hospital so guaranteed resident zones would be provided."

Local councillor John Flannagan has written to Ms Sturgeon asking for charges to be suspended while a public consultation takes place.

A public meeting has been arranged for August 25 in the Pierce Institute in Govan.

Stobhill Hospital and the Southern General introduced parking charges of up to £3 a day earlier this year to ensure patients can get a space.