A NEW Roma Holocaust Memorial will be placed in Queen's Park thanks to "overwhelming" support.

The Glasgow Times told last month how thugs had destroyed the Romani Rose Tree Memorial on the South Side.

Young Roma people from Govanhill had unveiled the plaque on August 2, Roma Holocaust Day.

Now, following a successful meeting between charity Romano Lav and council bosses, Glasgow City Council has said it will make a contribution to the creation of a new tribute.

Jim Monaghan, a trustee for the charity, said: "Romano Lav would like to thank Glasgow City Council and Councillor Siddique in particular for their support.

"We have been overwhelmed by the public support and are delighted that we will be able to restore and improve our memorial to Roma and Sinti people murdered in the Holocaust."

It is understood the new memorial will be granite mounted in concrete and have a plaque on the top.

A decision will now be taken about what words to have engraved on the tribute to the tens of thousands of Roma people murdered during World War II.

Local councillor Soryia Siddique, who offered her support following the destruction of the original memorial, added: "I arranged a meeting with Glasgow City Council and Romano Lav following the vandalism of the Roma Genocide Memorial, requesting the council replace the recently vandalised memorial.

"Glasgow City Council has now presented some design options to replace the vandalised memorial and a commitment to work with the local community to achieve an agreed design.

"It is important that we send a strong message that we stand in unity against racism or bias against any community."

Romano Lavis now trying to raise £2500 to support its work with more than £1000 already raised.

Historians estimate that around 25 percent of all European Roma were killed during the Holocaust, amounting to 250,000.

On August 2 1944, more than 4000 Roma people were murdered in the gas chambers of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

To donate to Romano Lav see: tinyurl.com/RomanoLav