SPECIALIST environment officers have been deployed to Drumchapel to tackle hundreds of dumped tyres.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) revealed it will be sending officers to the fly tipping hotspot off Garscadden Road after the Glasgow Times revealed masses of tyres and litter had been ditched on the vacant land.

Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council met with the charity yesterday for crunch talks on how to remove the mess safely amid fears it could cause an environmental disaster if vandals set it alight.

A SEPA spokesman said: “SEPA works with partners to tackle waste crime and has recently been notified by Glasgow City Council of tyres and other materials being dumped on an area of land at Garscadden Road.

“A multi-agency group, including representatives from SEPA, Police Scotland, Glasgow City Council and others will met on Wednesday, July 22, to discuss this matter and specialist SEPA officers will also be deployed to the area.”

Police have urged witnesses who may have spotted trucks or individuals dumping rubbish on the site to get in touch as the force launched an investigation into the situation.

However, the Glasgow Times understands similar tyre dumps have been reported elsewhere in Drumchapel on a smaller scale.

The road, which is located between Garscadden House and Aldi, is currently open to the public.

Councillor Paul Carey has called for CCTV and concrete blocks to be erected on the site in a bid to stop the issue.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “We were made aware on Monday, 20 July, of large-scale fly tipping in Drumchapel.

“We are working alongside Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to remove the tyres and make the area safe.

“Enquiries are ongoing. If anyone has any information about this incident please contact us on 101 quoting incident number 2420 of July 20.”

The clear up is already underway and is expected to cost the council thousands.

As previously reported, those living nearby fear the area is being used by a private company to dump their old tyres.

Residents have called for a complete crackdown to stop the area being "blighted" by the eyesores and to ensure the perpetrators are punished.

Cllr Carey said: "It has now become quite clear that this is not the only site in Drumchapel where tyres have been dumped.

"It is now a serious environmental issue.

"Let me make this quite clear: the council will be working without partners to identify who is responsible for this.

"I will be pushing for the maximum sentence under the law for whoever is responsible."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.