RESIDENTS involved in the planned £1.6billion make-over of the East End of Glasgow have met the minister in charge of funding the project.

MSP Alex Neil, minister for housing and communities, visited people from Bridgeton who are helping regeneration agency Clyde Gateway drive forward the 20-year plan.

They are part of a steering committee set up to ensure local people have their say on the proposals, in particular a £1.4million project to revamp Bridgeton Cross.

That is just one of the first plans for the scheme which aims to create 21,000 jobs, build 10,000 new homes and increase the population in the East End by 20,000.

The minister - who has only been in the post since February - went on a tour of the area to be transformed, which covers Bridgeton, Dalmarnock, Parkhead, Rutherglen and Shawfield.

He spent time looking at development sites including the Commonwealth Games village site next to the River Clyde, as well as others in Dalmarnock and Shawfield.

It is hoped the project - which will be boosted by the M74 extension and the new East End Regeneration road, will attract businesses and transform the communities in the run-down areas.

Mr Neil said: "I'm very impressed with the plans, particularly all this wasted land which is to be brought into productive use for housing and jobs, and the regeneration of the river.

"I'm impressed with the vision of the urban regeneration company and with the fact that the councils of Glasgow and South Lanarkshire, along with the government and Scottish Enterprise, are working together to make reality of the vision."

One resident who has been involved with the Bridgeton steering group, which will see the cross including the historic "umbrella" shelter transformed is Grace Donald, 84, who has lived in Bridgeton all her life.

She said: "I have been on committees all my days. I'm really interested in what happens here and I will do my best to help the regeneration.

"It was wonderful meeting the minister and I've every faith in him."

Another member of the committee, Rosemary Robertson, 32, from Bridgeton said: "It's great to see him supporting this project which will mean a lot to local people."

Clyde Gateway chief executive Ian Manson said: "We're absolutely delighted with the way the visit went. We think the minister seems very impressed with what we're trying to do and accepts the challenges it faces.

"But most important of all he got to meet people who share our vision and realises there's enthusiasm and desire for change driven locally."

Partners in the Clyde Gateway project are Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Enterprise National, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire and Communities Scotland.