Work has begun to restore a derelict South Side amphitheatre to its former glory.

Four local community councils have been working for the past two years to raise the £600,000 needed to rebuild the 100-year-old Queen's Park bandstand.

And now the two years of planning are set to become reality as engineers move into the park to in-fill old mine tunnels on the site.

Evelyn Silber, chairwoman of the Queen's Park Arena steering group, said the committee was delighted to see work finally begin.

She said: "We are really pleased.

"Every time we hold a consultation we learn from people across the city how excited they are that we are doing this."

The steering group is made up of representatives from Crosshill/Govanhill, Langside, Battlefield, Camphill, Mount Florida, Shawlands and Strathbungo community councils.

Although more than half a million pounds is needed to complete the project, the steering group, which is now a registered charity, is carrying out the upgrade in two phases.

The first phase of work, costing £180,000, involves stabilising the ground, installing new drainage and power and resurfacing the arena and terraces to create seats for 200 people.

The group held a competition to design the new bandstand, which was won by Glasgow-based architects ZM.

The second phase will see ZM's plans come to life with the addition of changing rooms, a canopy, more seating, a stage and a screen.

Evelyn, a former museum director, added: "We have had fantastic support for this project.

"When the first phase is finished it will be interesting to see who comes to the bandstand and how they use it.

"Hopefully it will be a popular draw for people from all over Glasgow and beyond."

The original Queen's Park bandstand was moved to Duchess Park in Motherwell in 1920, leaving the area vacant for 10 years.

A new bandstand was built in 1930 but, after years of neglect, it burnt down in 1996, leaving the site derelict.

In its day, the bandstand attracted a range of musical and theatre acts.

African American singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson performed at the bandstand on May Day 1960.