Litter louts have been blamed for making the stretch between Townhead and Hillhead bridges particularly bad.

The woman said: "It could be a lovely area, but the litter louts and vandals are spoiling it for everyone.

"The other day I noticed vandals had tipped a huge bin filled with
bottles in the canal. A little further along three beer kegs had been dumped in the water."

Another Kirkintilloch resident, Penny Sinclair, says rubbish is constantly being dumped near the canal bridge at the entrance to the new St Ninian's High School.

She said: "I regularly walk along that stretch of the canal and have noticed quite a lot of litter. It's spoiling the beauty of the canal.
I'm not saying it has all been dumped by pupils, I'm sure other people will be responsible too.

"I have spoken to the school and was told they are being proactive and speaking to the pupils about the problem."

British Waterways Scotland recently carried out a clean-up in the area.
A spokesperson for East Dunbartonshire Council said: "There is a litter problem in this area and further-a-field along the canal.

"The head teacher will be liaising with representatives from the British Waterways Trust and the council's litter warden to address the issue in the area nearest the school.

"Pupils are being regularly reminded that littering is not acceptable behaviour and the majority are holding onto their litter and placing it in bins provided at the school."