An ice skating rink has been cut from Glasgow's George Square Christmas event this year due to a £130m funding gap.

The measure was approved by the council in March when it stated it would save £800,000.

Glasgow Life, the Glasgow City Council arms-length body which runs the event, confirmed the rink would not feature this year.

It is estimated around 25,000 people use the facility each year as part of the 'Glasgow Loves Christmas' event, although in recent years the George Square ice rink has been forced to close on several occasions because of extreme weather.

According to 2016/17 budget papers, the council said the cost-cutting measure included the redesign of the Glasgow Loves Christmas offer, including the Christmas lights switch on and the annual fireworks display at Glasgow Green. It also includes a restructuring of the events team.

On Thursday, a spokesman for Glasgow Life said: "In recent years, wet weather has meant the ice rink hasn't been as popular.

"The number of people skating has been a small percentage of those asking for tickets for the Christmas Lights Switch-on or just visiting George Square to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

"This year George Square will be home to a traditional Christmas market which will offer an enhanced experience of Glasgow over the festive period for tens of thousands of people."

Earlier this year, Glasgow City Council leader Frank McAveety confirmed the local authority had agreed to cut £130m over the next two years as it faced a "double whammy" of reduced funding from the Scottish Government and the UK Government.

The Christmas lights in George Square will be switched on at an event on November 20 this year.