TOP comedians have taken part in a sell-out stand-up show to raise funds to help bereaved relatives and survivors of the Clutha tragedy which claimed 10 lives.
Still Game star Ford Kiernan joined comedians Fred MacAulay, Paul Brannigan, Des Clarke, Bruce Morton, Gary Little and Janey Godley to volunteer for the Glasgow Stands Up For The Clutha gig.
Around £20,000 was raised through ticket sales and the target, including proceeds from a raffle, is £40,000. The money raised will go to the Lord Provost's Clutha appeal fund which has reached more than £220,000.
More than 100 people were in the Clutha bar in Stockwell Street, in Glasgow city centre, when a police helicopter crashed through the roof on November 29, killing the three people in the aircraft and seven people in the pub. Last night's fundraiser took place at Glasgow's O2 Academy, in Eglinton Street, a short distance away from the site of the crash.
The Clutha was a popular stand up venue and many of Scotland's best known comedians, including Billy Connolly, performed there.
More than 1500 people attended last night's gig, with the three-hour show opened with the song Mother Glasgow sung by Tom Urie. It was followed by a poem written by Clutha victim John McGarrigle which was read by actor Paul Brannigan who starred in the hit film The Angels' Share.
There was a warm welcome for three members of the Trossachs Search and Rescue Team, who helped in the rescue effort and came on stage last night with their rescue dogs.
Among the audience were people who were in the Clutha on the night of the tragedy and relatives and friends of those who died.
Nancy Primrose, 55, from the east end of Glasgow, who was injured in the Clutha tragedy, was in crutches and had her head covered in bandages as she watched the show.
She said it was wonderful that so many people had turned out for the gig. "I'm having a laugh tonight but it has also been a very emotional evening. Tears came to my eyes when I saw the search and rescue team and dogs come on to the stage. I'm overwhelmed by the support shown to us by the people of Glasgow."
All the staff working in the venue last night donated their night's salary to the fund.
Event organiser Alan Anderson said: "Scottish comedy came together out of a need to do something and I couldn't be prouder and more humble of what we achieved."
It has not yet been established what caused the helicopter to crash, but investigators say initial evidence rules out engine or gearbox failure.
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