THE homelessness protesters camped out in George Square have been formally asked to leave by the council.

A small number of men and women set up tents in the square on Monday demanding help for homeless people.

Jason Miller, who organised the protest, said they would get other homeless people to join them until the council took action.

However, the council said it has offered to help anyone who needs it but said their offers have been rejected.

Mr Miller said he has been homeless in the past but now has accommodation but wants action for those currently on the streets.

After four days camped out they have been formally requested to leave by Glasgow City Council who said their offers have been rebuffed and now have no option but to request they leave.

The council said it has offered to help those in the camp who are homeless find accommodation.

A spokeswoman said if the request to leave is ignored then legal action to evict will follow.

Around eight people were in the camp and a disagreement about the presence of one of the protesters has led to at least one leaving.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: “Continual offers of help to find accommodation and access free, hot food and other support have been repeatedly rejected by the protestors and, despite our best efforts, constructive dialogue with our homelessness teams has broken down.

“Several of the protestors are not homeless, but our offers of help to anyone who is, remain.

“Unfortunately, if the individuals involved do not need, or want our help, we have no option but to formally ask those occupying George Square to leave.”

The protesters had taken fencing from a pro independence rally in George Square on Sunday to barricade themselves in on Monday morning but by Tuesday the fencing had been removed.

A bucket had also been placed beside the camp for people to give donations.

On the first day of the protest Mr Miller said “There are people dying on the streets. The council need to step up and stop this.”

“We are going to get more homeless people from the streets to join us.

“We will cover George Square with tents and homeless people until the start to listen to us.”

The council said its offer of help to those who are homeless remains but can no longer allow the protest to continue in the square.

The spokeswoman added: “We fully respect their right to protest, but must also seek to ensure George Square is available for use by everyone.

“If the protestors refuse to leave of their own volition, we’ll have no choice but to begin legal proceedings to evict them. But we hope anyone who needs help accepts the genuine offers made.

“Help is available – no one need camp out.”