THE work of campaigners calling for better lifesaving equipment along the River Clyde has been highlighted in the House of Commons.

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow North East Labour M,P raised the work of the Think Again campaign which is calling for emergency lifeline phones to be installed along the river bank where people have lost their lives.

He praised the Speirs family, from Springburn, whose son Christopher died two years ago in tragic circumstances.

Mr Spiers slipped as he tried to climb a barrier to get through a cordon at the Tradeston Bridge in January 2016 after it has been closed by police due to a damaged building.

Although his death was an accident his parents joined with campaigners including families of people who took their own lives in the river and want more help for others who are suicidal.

Mr Sweeney asked the Leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom for a debate in Westminster on suicide services provision.

He recognised the efforts of the family and community activist Glasgow cabbie, Stef Shaw, for their work on promoting the campaign.

Mr Sweeney said: “Awareness of mental health issues is improving, but that does not reduce the need for practical measures to reach out to people with suicidal thoughts at their most dire moment of need.

“The hard work of the bereaved families who have built up the Think Again campaign with the help of Stephen Shaw over several years and the efforts to raise awareness of the issue by Duncan and Margaret Speirs have turned their own unimaginable losses into hope.

“The ambition of the Think Again campaign is such that when these measures are introduced in Glasgow they plan to expand the campaign to include other cities across the UK. This work represents the best of Glasgow and I am looking forward to telling colleagues at Westminster about it.”

Ms Leadsom agreed with the Glasgow MP and joined him to recognise the hard work of the campaign.

She said: “ I join in paying tribute to the superb work.

“ It really does sound like a magnificent contribution to trying to alleviate the problem of poor mental health and suicide which is so vital right across the UK.”

As part of their campaign Mr and Mrs Spiers met with Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council to call for better safety measures.

They handed a petition containing more than 1500 signatures into the local authority calling for action.

Following the meeting Ms Aitken announced that changes will be made in a bid to prevent another tragedy from happening.