Rangers' fans have raised more than £1200 for two hospitals - just 48 hours after the Evening Times revealed their charity bid had been snubbed by the organisers of a Glasgow gala.

As reported on Wednesday, Gibson Street Gala banned The Founders Trail – an organisation that researches the history of Rangers – from collecting money at the event for Yorkhill and Erskine hospitals.

The group was told it was "too controversial" and could not take part.

But fans behind the donations website – dubbed Making Amends for Gibson Street Gala – said they did not want the charities to miss out on the cash that would have been raised at the June event.

More than £1200 has been donated since the site was launched on Thursday.

Founders Trail organiser Iain McColl, from Cumbernauld, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the response from people.

"Rangers' supporters have pulled together, as they have done so many times in the past, to raise funds. It's fantastic.

"The amount of money raised in just a few hours has been nothing short of remarkable.

"The aim of the stall was always to simply raise money for these charities.

"Yorkhill and Erskine are crying out for cash, it would have been so unfair if they were to miss out.

"So much has been raised already and the amount will continue to rise."

Organisers of the Gala had said the Founders Trail stall "just didn't fit in" with their event.

Secretary Eric Kay said: "We have never had any complaints about any other stalls before, so it stands out.

"That's not a slight on this organisation. We just felt it wasn't fitting with our event."

To donate to the fund, see: http://uk.virgin moneygiving.com/ oldandyoung

rebecca.gray@ eveningtimes.co.uk

The amount of money raised in just a few hours is remarkable