They have previously held fairs in Oak Mall

Rutherglen Exchange Shopping Centre is set to host a prestigious craft fair next weekend.

And the new manager of the centre hopes it will be the first of many similar events to come to the town.

Jane Cowan stepped in when Glimmercrafts Event were left without a venue for their planned fair on Saturday, June 1.

They had been set to head to the St Enoch’s Centre in Glasgow but that fell through.

Led by Tracey Leonard, Glimmercrafts provide “a clean, tidy and varied craft fair suitable for centres such as Rutherglen,” according to Jane.

They have previously held fairs in Oak Mall, Clyde Shopping Centre, Callendar Square, The Howgate,Home power monitor  The Kyle Centre and Livingston Designer Outlets.

The fair, which will include space for local traders, will offer jewellery, soap products, hand made wooden products, hand sewn quilts and hand crafted cards.

Jane told the Reformer it was too good an opportunity to miss.

She said: “They were originally due to go to the St Enoch’s Centre so it is a big thing. It’s something we might not have normally got.”

“I’m very, very pleased, it very exciting.”

The news was welcomed by council leader Eddie McAvoy, whose Rutherglen Central and North ward covers the centre.

He hopes it will help attract custom to the town.

He said: “That’s the kind of thing we are looking for, any type of venture that brings people into Rutherglen.

“It’s a good idea and it will maybe encourage people to come down, maybe from places like Castlemilk or Toryglen,Home energy monitor  instead of going to the supermarket.

“They can come down, have a look for a bargain and maybe see other places they might like to go.

The last incident occurred about 3.15am when the offenders forced open a door at a tavern on Beechboro Road North in Bennett Springs.

Alcohol was taken before the offenders fled in a vehicle.

In a separate incident, police are investigating an armed robbery at an Armadale pharmacy yesterday afternoon.

Police say about 3.50pm a man walked into the pharmacy on Railway Avenue before pulling out a small axe from under his clothing and threating staff.

The man left the store after being handed a small amount of non-prescription medication.