IT is one of Scotland's most popular walkways, used daily by hundreds of cyclists, joggers and people heading in and out of the city.

But those trying to use the Clyde Walkway in Glasgow yesterday had a rude awakening as a huge section of the path had slipped into the river.

A 50-yard stretch of the footpath collapsed into the river on the north side, just west of the Kingston Bridge at Anderston Quay.

The entire quay wall plunged into the water leaving a deep crack with soil and concrete and metal foundations protruding.

As well as the section of concrete slabbed pathway, the grass verge between the path and Anderston Quay road has also been reduced to rubble.

The white fencing has broken and the quay wall is cracked and bulging.

Eva Arrighi, who lives in an apartment on the southside of the river front, said she is worried about the security of her own property now.

She said: "We can see it from the house, it is terrible.

"We were shocked because we live right on the river so we are concerned about whether the quay wall is safe."

Ms Arrighi and her partner, Michael Bannister, 32, regularly walk on the footpath with her children Hector and Henry, both four, and two-year-old January.

She said: "It makes you question, is it safe to walk along the river? We have got three young children and we walk along there quite a lot and it makes you concerned.

"The whole quay wall has collapsed. They have had it closed off so no-one could have walked along."

The city council fenced off the walkway on Wednesday after assessing a depression in the path. That fence now stretches from the Kingston Bridge to the Anderston Quay apartments.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "A depression in the walkway was noticed on Wednesday. That afternoon, council staff assessed the depression and fenced off the walkway.

"The assessment indicated a failure in the quay wall.

"A local contractor with a good working knowledge of the quay walls in the area is now on-site.

"The contractor is carrying out investigations on the quay wall and is monitoring it daily.

"Local businesses and residents have been informed."

Work was carried out to strengthen the quay walls on both sides of the river when the walkways, lampposts and paving stones were installed in 2007/08.

Further strengthening work was carried out on parts of the quay wall for the construction of the Riverside Museum of Transport.