A site for the UK's first "fix room" facility - a secure place for addicts to take drugs - has been identified by officials.

The proposed Glasgow's city centre site would give addicts a place to inject and inhale drugs under medical supervision.

It is hoped the "fix room" will help reduce drug-related deaths, the spread of infections from shared needles and the hazard discarded needles pose to the public.

The idea was first floated after a steep rise in the number of HIV cases among Glasgow's intravenous drug users.

According to a report earlier this year, 78 new HIV cases diagnosed in Glasgow since 2015 among drug injectors could potentially create lifetime costs to the NHS of £28m.

It is estimated the operating costs of the facility would be £2.36m a year.

Members of the Glasgow City Integration Joint Board (IJB) - made up of councillors, police and health providers - discussed a report on progress to develop the facility on Wednesday.

A site has been identified in the city centre between Trongate, Saltmarket and the River Clyde.

It would have a maximum of 12 injecting booths and a drug inhalation room, although the number of booths and feasibility of the inhalation room would depend on the floorspace available.

The facility would open from 9am to 9pm seven days a week.

Some European cities already operate "fix rooms", but the Glasgow facility would be the UK's first.

The IJB report suggests the facility would benefit the city.

However, project chiefs will have to ask the Lord Advocate for an exemption from the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act to allow the plan to proceed.