LETTERS have been sent to 85,000 homes across Glasgow telling occupants they are eligible for gift cards pre-loaded with £105 each as part of a city council scheme.

Households in receipt of council tax reduction as of June 1 are being urged to watch out for envelopes branded with Love Local, Love Glasgow dropping through their letterbox.

The letters detail information about using the cards when they are delivered to their homes mid-month.

Letters must be kept safe as they contain a unique activation code.

The council is using the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card to help lower-income households with the cost of living crisis while ensuring money is re-invested in the local economy, helping businesses recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Council leader Councillor Susan Aitken, said: “The 85,000 cards that we’ll soon be sending out will secure a double benefit for communities across Glasgow.”

The cards can only be used within the city with businesses registered to accept them. More than 700 shops, places to eat, salons and visitor attractions have so far signed to do so.

The card values alone will deliver a one-off injection of more than £8 million into city firms, but supporters believe the scheme has the power to unlock millions more for the economy by encouraging people to spend more time in their local area.

Funding for the project has come via a £9.45m Covid recovery package from the Scottish Government.