The UK’s first safer drugs consumption room opens its doors in Glasgow on Monday. The Thistle Centre will provide a space where drug users can take illegal substances such as heroin and cocaine under medical supervision in a clean and hygienic environment.

Scotland, which has the highest rate of recorded drugs deaths in Europe, is opening a new facility for users to inject illegal drugs under medical supervision.

The £2.3m facility, known as the Thistle, will allow users to inject illegal substances without fear of prosecution.

It is hoped The Thistle - based in Glasgow's east end - will help addicts access wider support to improve their lives, as well as reduce the risk of blood-borne viruses such as HIV.

Welcome to the Thistle - the UK's first and only drug consumption room. After nearly a decade of deadlock and wrangling over drug laws the centre is finally ready to open. On Monday it will welcome its first clients who will come in to inject illegally-bought heroin or cocaine under medical supervision.

Scotland's leader John Swinney hailed Friday the opening next week of Britain's first official consumption room for illegal drugs, after a years-long battle with the UK government over the issue.Conservative ministers in Westminster,

The UK’s first safer drugs consumption room will open in Scotland in an effort to tackle the country’s major drugs problem. The Thistle Centre, in Glasgow’s east end, will allow addicts to take drugs – including heroin – under supervision in a clean and hygienic environment,