Celtic fans attend unofficial title party despite club appeal

Celtic fans gathered in Glasgow city centre for an unofficial "title party" after the club lifted the Scottish Premiership trophy.

Thousands of supporters descended on the Merchant City and Trongate areas and let off smoke bombs following the 1-1 draw against St Mirren at Celtic Park.

Some scaled traffic lights and the historic Mercat Cross as a police helicopter hovered overhead.

Glasgow City Council confirmed several roads had been closed as a result.

A number of bus shelters were dismantled by the authorities earlier for safety reasons ahead of the mass gathering.

On Friday Celtic asked fans not to attend due to safety fears and concerns from local residents and city officials.

Around 500 police officers are on duty after previous events attracted anti-social behaviour, damage and disruption to the local area.

A council traffic information bulletin advised road users to avoid the Glasgow Cross area until further notice and follow police direction.

In recent years fans have been pictured standing on bus shelters but by Saturday morning several in the area had been removed as a safety precaution.

The shelters were also stripped of glass and taped off.

The gatherings are not supported by Police Scotland or Glasgow City Council, which has said similar previous unofficial events "robbed the public purse" and described them as "disruptive".

The unofficial celebrations come on the same day a major Orange walk took place in the city, although it passed off without incident in the morning.

Celtic fans started to assemble in the Trongate during the match - which kicked off at 12:30 - and the crowds swelled after the full-time whistle.

The club won its 55th league title last month but the trophy presentation traditionally takes place on the final day of the season.

Celtic issued an appeal on the eve of the game for fans not to assemble in the city centre.

A club spokesperson said: "While previous celebrations involving Celtic fans have been well intentioned, unfortunately, as local community stakeholders have made clear in recent weeks, some of these have led to severe congestion and difficulties for emergency services, residents and local businesses.

"Further, without the planning, facilities and infrastructure of an organised, licensed event, the number of supporters present at previous gatherings has become so great that the safety of fans has also become an issue of real concern.

"For all of these reasons, the club would encourage supporters not to attend unlicensed large public gatherings, which do not have safety planning, facilities or infrastructure for supporters attending."

Last year's gathering resulted in 19 arrests, injuries to four police officers and a massive clean-up operation the following day.

Tricia Fort, chairwoman of Calton Community Council, said previous gatherings had been "hellish" for some people who live around the Trongate and Glasgow Cross areas.

She said: "People who live at Glasgow Cross are moving out (for the day) because it has been so bad before.

"The city council say they can't do anything because nobody has asked them to arrange an alternative, such as Glasgow Green.

"The police are sort of left in the middle and Celtic effectively refuse to organise anything for their supporters - I firmly think they should be arranging a celebration for the fans. The club need to accept their responsibility and step up to the plate."

A Celtic spokesperson said the club had been "trying for some time" to come to an alternative arrangement with city officials which might allow for a "more suitable venue for celebratory events away from Celtic Park".