Council proposals for a ban on anti-social beggars in the centre of Scotland's largest city have come under fire from homeless campaigners.

Tough new measures could see beggars who regularly drink and take drugs banned from Glasgow city centre.

Glasgow City Council bosses plan to introduce Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (CRASBOs) for beggars who are committing crime and causing problems in the city.

But a homeless charity has said proper support must be put in place if the council and police are to tackle the behaviour among a minority of beggars.

Hugh Hill, of Simon Community Scotland, said he would be wary of "criminalising vulnerability".

He said: "Our starting point is they are vulnerable people with issues around addiction often as a result of a past trauma.

"I don't know anyone who would chose that life. What's important is what we can do to help people chose another path.

"There needs to be co-ordination between criminal justice health and social care."

He said there is no justification for anyone being aggressive or abuse whether they are on the streets or not but added: "There is always a back story."

The local authority unveiled the proposals on Wednesday, insisting they will not target people in genuine need who are not committing crimes or causing problems.

Council chiefs said the proposed move will target the small minority of beggars who use the city centre as a drinking den or a place to take drugs.

City council leader Susan Aitken defended the policy on Twitter, stating that a line had to be drawn on unacceptable behaviour of a minority.

She said: "Clear recommendations from our multi-partner City Centre Begging Working Group to get the balance right on this difficult issue.

"Everyone will be offered support, but a line has to be drawn on anti-social behaviour."

"We know that begging and criminality are not the same thing.

"But we need a clear approach for a small number who persistently behave anti-socially."