A PHASED closure of Glasgow Winter Night Shelter will begin - 12 nights earlier than scheduled.

The lifeline for many of the city's rough sleepers said they have taken the decision following stringent Government advice about congregating people together.

On Tuesday, the shelter said it would host 16 people with mattresses six feet apart.

On Wednesday and Thursday, they will take in 10 people before closing on Friday.

The facility has helped more than 600 people since they opened on November 28.

Glasgow Times:

The organisation said they plan to continue to open their city centre facility at 20 Crimea Street.

A statement said: "The early closure will apply more pressure to the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to ensure those needing accommodation have a roof over their head.

"We will continue to work tirelessly with the HSCP to make this happen and we are advocating for a publicly funded response to housing all vulnerable people through this crisis."