Appliance of science fails TV viewers

Around 300 homes have been hit

Residents in the Govan area of Glasgow have been faced with a virtual TV blackout in recent weeks because of a science centre being built on their doorstep.

It is thought cranes from the National Science Centre have blocked the signal.

The issue is viewed as so serious that Govan Labour MP Mohammad Sarwar has been drafted in to help solve the problem.

It looks like we would have to stick an aerial on top of one of the cranes to get a decent picture

Mohammad Sarwar

He will meet science centre director Paul Smith on Saturday in the hope of reaching a happy conclusion for all involved.

While the rest of the country has been watching Eastenders, Coronation Street and England crash out of Euro 2000, people in Govan have been struggling to get any kind of picture.

Millennium project

The interference appears to have been directly caused by construction cranes associated with Scotland's largest millennium project.

Mohammad Sarwar: Stepping in

Built on the site of the Glasgow Garden Festival at a cost of £75m, the centre is now more than halfway through its 28 month building programme.

Around 300 homes in the neighbouring housing scheme are all affected by the picture problem.

Mr Sarwar said: "It is simply unfair that my constituents in Govan are being asked to pay lots of money for engineers or new aerials just to see their favourite programmes.

"Some may even have paid out for satellites to watch the live European football."

He added: "It looks like we would have to stick an aerial on top of one of the cranes to get a decent picture. I hope that the Science Centre will be able to find a solution for local residents."