MINDLESS vandals are putting lives at risk on the River Clyde – by stealing hundreds of metres of rope.

In November last year, Glasgow City Council’s Water Safety Group – backed by the family of a man who lost his life in the river – launched the new distinctive design for lifebelt throw ropes.

At the time, it was hoped it would deter thieves and vandals from nicking the vital equipment.

But it has now been revealed that in just a few months, around 400 metres of rope has been stolen from our city’s riverside – in what Glasgow Humane Society (GHS) has described as “idiotic behaviour”.

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Last week, the group revealed shocking pictures of emergency lifeline telephones being defaced with vile graffiti, ropes being cut and lifebelts dumped in the water.

And on Friday, a spokesman for the charity added: “Nothing has changed, it’s still happening.

“This week, volunteers and river users have been in touch to let us know of another five ropes that have been cut and stolen.

“We have searched the river and riverbanks for these missing ropes without success, which makes us think someone is taking this unique coloured rope for their own personal use.”

The spokesman added: “If you see this unique coloured rope being used anywhere, please report it to the police.

“In the last three months we have had 16 lifebelt ropes cut and the ropes have never been found.

“All together this is around 400 metres of this unique coloured rope stolen.

“This rope is only for water safety equipment and it’s a crime to have it for any other reason. This is totally shocking behaviour.”

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A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council has labelled the incidents “beyond disappointing”.

It comes as Police Scotland officers have been searching the River Clyde for missing 22-year-old Emily Hope.

Cops have been searching the river since she disappeared from Mango nightclub on Sauchiehall Street at around 2am on February 22.

Her personal belongings were found close to the water.

Last week, the Humane Society posted: “At present, the GHS are extremely busy carrying out searches for missing people. But when mindless vandals are cutting ropes and tampering with lifebelts, it’s taking time away from other important work to replace these pointless acts of idiotic behaviour. This must stop.”

By adopting a unique and distinctive design, it was hoped that thieves would be deterred from taking a readily identifiable piece of life-saving equipment from the banks of the Clyde.

In November, 70 ropes were installed on to lifebelts between Albert Bridge and Bell’s Bridge.

But so far, a shocking 16 of those have been vandalised or stolen.

They were installed after a successful campaign by Duncan and Margaret Spiers.

The Glasgow couple had been pushing for enhanced river safety measures after their son Christopher accidentally drowned in the Clyde in January 2016 when he was just 28 years old.

Commenting on the most recent acts of vandalism, a Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “This destructive behaviour is beyond disappointing.

“This specialist equipment is designed to save lives.

“Those responsible should hang their heads in shame.’’