A LAW centre offering free legal advice in a troubled Glasgow community has been launched - with bosses pledging to root out slum landlords, gangmasters and criminals.

Principal solicitor Mike Dailly gave the commitment at the opening of Govanhill Law Centre by Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini QC.

He said: "This is the first new law centre to open in Scotland in a decade. Together we can root out the slum landlords and the gangmasters."

Govanhill has some of the most severe housing problems in the UK, with an estimated 750 slum flats. The local population is ethnically mixed and has the biggest concentration of Roma families in Scotland.

Mr Dailly, the solicitor behind the successful Govan Law Centre, revealed that work was already under way to tackle the area's housing problems.

He said: "Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell has asked us to provide him with independent advice on this complex issue and we will do so.

"Our first case will be to instruct one of Scotland's top QCs, Roy Martin, to provide a legal opinion on how compulsory purchase legislation can be used to eradicate substandard private rented accommodation in Govanhill."

Earlier this week the Evening Times revealed how the council had taken action over one landlord - Mohammed Aslam - who was renting out properties in Govanhill. His entire estate was sequestrated after the council took legal action against him over a £116,000 unpaid bill for council tax and repairs.

Ms Angiolini said: "Govanhill Law Centre provides a very valuable rights-based facility for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

"I am proud to be asked to open this centre and am tremendously supportive of its work."

Janice McEwan, chairwoman of Govanhill Housing Association, said: "We are delighted and excited at the prospect of the new law centre working in partnership with us to improve the slum housing conditions I thought we would never see here again."

Funding for the law centre came from the Scottish Government, Govanhill Housing Association, Govanhill Community Development Trust, Oxfam, and the trade unions Unison and USDAW.

Govanhill Law Centre is an independent, charitable community-controlled law centre.

It provides advice on a host of subjects including the arrestment of wages, unfair bank charges, bankruptcy, mortgage arrears, debt and homelessness.

Those who would like to use its services can call 0141 440 2503 or e-mail m@govanlc.com