Glasgow City Council has found combustible cladding on privately owned flats but neither the owners, residents or the fire service have been informed, MSPs have been told.

The information came to light at Holyrood's local government and communities committee on Wednesday.

Raymond Barlow, the council's assistant head of planning and building standards, refused to disclose how many buildings have the materials.

But STV News understands more than 50 buildings are affected.

Mr Barlow told MSPs the authority informed the Scottish Government of the discovery.

He said: "Then we wish to see what they wish to do with the information before we take it further."

Committee convener Bob Doris asked Mr Barlow if the properties meet the Building Regulation 135 standard, which ensures the whole cladding system is overall non-combustible, Barlow answered: "All the properties which we have notified pre-date current regulations."

The regulation was introduced in 2005.

In June, local authorities were ordered to check if combustible cladding was used on their properties following the Grenfell Tower fire in London which police estimate killed as many as 80 people.

When asked by Doris if he could confirm the cladding had been found, Mr Barlow replied: "Yes, it's just not public information yet."

"It's now public information because you are telling us," replied Doris.

The information comes one month after it was announced that panels of cladding were to be removed from the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital as a precautionary measure.

Following the committee meeting, Doris said: "It was deeply concerning to hear a Glasgow City Council official say that combustible cladding has been found in private high rise homes.

"People who are currently living in private high rises and who listened to this today will of course be worried about their safety in their homes.

"We don't want this to cause undue alarm, as these buildings may well be safe, but people who live in these homes deserve answers.

"That's why we've asked Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government to urgently provide us with more information on the extent of this issue and we will put these concerns to the Minister when he appears next week."

Assistant chief officer David McGown from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are a member of the ministerial working group which has outlined that the information presented on September 8 did not detail how many private high rise domestic properties may have ACM or whether the material was combustible cladding of the same type as used on Grenfell.

"Glasgow City Council has been asked to provide further information and the working group awaits their clarification.

"The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service routinely carries out operational intelligence and reassurance visits at high rise premises for the purposes of checking facilities and arrangements for firefighting and firefighter safety.

"I would remind communities in Scotland that we are here to support them, most notably through our free home fire safety visits where firefighters will provide safety advice and guidance on what to do in the event of an emergency."