Greater Glasgow Health Board has agreed to proceed with plans to site a secure unit for mentally ill criminals at Stobhill Hospital.

At an acrimonious meeting, politicians accused board officials of displaying "contempt for democracy" by not delaying the decision until a petition was presented to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

MSP Paul Martin and local councillor, Charlie Kennedy, were so angry about the board's decision to plough on that they walked out to applause from members of the public observing the meeting.

Residents in the area had joined forces with local politicians in a long-running campaign against the proposal.

They voiced fears that the facility would represent a threat to public safety.

Plans for the £12.5m secure care centre at Stobhill first emerged in 1998. They were rejected at the time for being "unsuitable" but were revived last year.

It is understood the unit, if built, would house up to 76 mentally ill offenders - around a quarter of which would come from the State Hospital at Carstairs and include convicted rapists and paedophiles.

The local community insist these patients would represent a danger to the public and point to the fact that there are three primary schools in the vicinity of Stobhill.

But health professionals insist the threat is being overplayed and, if anything, the risk to the wider community would be reduced.

They stress the security would be high and patients would be checked every hour, visitors would be searched and a CCTV system would be in operation.

Mr Martin said he remained worried by the transfer of patients from Carstairs, particularly murderers and sex offenders, even though they have been deemed to be only a medium risk.

It is understood construction work on the centre could begin later this year.