A mystery mascot from the first Commonwealth Games held in Scotland almost half a century ago has been uncovered.

Everyone remembers Clyde, the official Glasgow 2014 mascot who was meeting and greeting sports fans this time last year during 11 days of competition in the city.

But a new exhibition being held to chart more than 80 years of Scotland's involvement in the Commonwealth Games has unearthed a previously unknown character from the 1970 Games which took place in Edinburgh.

The exhibition, curated by the University of Stirling archives, started a tour of Scotland earlier this year and has seen its contents grow as members of the public donate their own memorabilia.

One of the items added to the collection was an unofficial mascot from the 1970 Games.

Now, the discovery of the unnamed Humpty Dumpty-like toy 45 years later has also brought to light a mascot debacle.

Official mascots were not introduced to the Commonwealth Games until host country Canada presented grizzly bear Keyano to the world during the Edmonton Games in 1978.

However, attempts had been made by organisers to create one for Edinburgh following the success of the 1966 World Cup Willie mascot and drawings were produced for a kilted haggis character with the working name of Wee Mannie.

Games chiefs held a high-profile publicity launch in July 1969, followed by a competition for schoolchildren to name the mascot, but the idea was dropped after organisers received 23 letters of complaint about the design and later claimed the official crest was more popular.

But this did not stop the Scottish team creating its own unofficial mascots.

On the track, the athletics team adopted a huge teddy bear dressed in a navy vest, shorts and a tartan scarf. Named after a coach, it was called Dunky Dick and was memorably carried by Lachie Stewart around Meadowpark Stadium after winning gold in the 10,000 metres.

The other unofficial, newly discovered mascot is a home-made creation donated by the family of the late William Carmichael - the then director of the Edinburgh 1970 Organising Committee.

It is now on display alongside Clyde and the mascot from the 1986 Edinburgh Games - a Scottie dog called Mac - at the Hosts and Champions exhibition.

University of Stirling archivist Karl Magee said it was probably the most exciting item they have added to the collection since the tour started in March.

He said: "William Carmichael's involvement in the Commonwealth Games goes right back to the 1934 Empire Games in London where he was a wrestling judge.

"His mascot may not have a name and have been unknown until now, but it has been added to the collection and is on display with pride alongside Clyde and Mac, and many of the other mascots since they were officially introduced in 1978."

The exhibition also includes everything from a dancing teacake, which featured in the Glasgow 2014 opening ceremony, to photographs, clothes and artefacts.

It opened at the university's MacRobert Arts Centre on Thursday - exactly one year on from Glasgow hosting the sporting event - and will run until September 11.

Jon Doig, Commonwealth Games Scotland chief executive, said: "Team Scotland's achievements at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games caught the imagination of the nation and we are delighted this exhibition from our archive gives people the length and breadth of the country the opportunity to share in these memories and find out more about what makes the Commonwealth Games so special."