BULLDOZERS moved in today to start work on a £2.3million plan to upgrade part of Glasgow's West End.

People in Partick have been fighting for more than a decade to improve Mansfield Park.

Partick councillor Aileen Colleran cut the first sod on Friday and this morning bulldozers began the first phase of work, which is expected to run until October.

Mansfield Park, off Dumbarton Road between Mansfield Street and Hyndland Street, is where the popular Farmers' Market meets, but otherwise is little used.

In the coming months, the blaes football pitch will be replaced with an all-weather multi-sports pitch and new grassy area.

The second phase will include building a park pavilion, which will house a meeting space, snack bar and public toilets.

Local people worked with Friends Of Mansfield Park and Partick Housing Association to raise the cash and design the new space. Some of the money came from the city Growth Fund.

Ms Colleran said: "At the moment, it is an under-used space and does not show Partick in its best light. People cannot believe that after more than a decade work is now beginning."

Local people were determined the Farmers' Market should be able to continue operating from Mansfield Park.

When work is finished, stall holders will be able to set up in a new civic square instead of a derelict pitch.

Ms Colleran added: "This work means a lot to local people, especially the older ones, who had the aspiration to do something with the space in the first place."

She said that when the area is complete it is hoped it will be the base for a wide variety of events.

"The annual Partick Fair, which was revived, is held there in the summer and there is the switch-on of the Christmas lights," she added.

"However we want to have more arts events, weather permitting."