Clyde thistle is 2014 Games mascot

The mascot for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has been revealed as a thistle named after the host city's river.

Clyde made a grand entrance at his unveiling ceremony, zip-sliding through the middle of BBC Scotland's headquarters at Pacific Quay to the delight of 150 waiting schoolchildren, then receiving a hug from Olympic and Commonwealth swimmer Rebecca Adlington.

The winning design, by 12-year-old Beth Gilmour from Cumbernauld, was chosen from around 4,000 entries.

Organisers said the main criteria was that the mascot should be both Scottish and Glaswegian.

Lord Smith, Glasgow 2014 chairman, said: "He's very Glasgow isn't he: a bit cheeky and with lots of life."