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Second wave of community websites launched today by Evening Times

The Evening Times in Glasgow today launched a further 12 community websites.

Plans for the second dozen were accelerated after feedback from readers wanting to know when their area was going to be included.

And among the latest 12 are areas where there are high hopes of involving the paper’s own community correspondents.

A number of improvements are also planned for the sites – again in response to user feedback – and the paper says it remains on track to create up to 80 community sites by the end of the year.

The popular noticeboard section, where groups or individuals can publicise events for free, is to be expanded and navigation between the sites is to be improved.

Picture sections are also to be categorised after hundreds of images were uploaded by amateur photographers across the city, with some of the images being reverse-published into the ‘your pics’ slot on the paper’s letters page.

Assistant editor Graeme Smith said: “The response to the first 12 sites has been phenomenal.

“Traffic has exceeded all our expectations and we’ve brought forward our roll-out of the next batch in response.

“We’re still compiling figures from the first fortnight but obviously we would not have accelerated the introduction of the second phase if we hadn’t been greatly encouraged by the interest we’ve had so far.”

The 12 new sites cover Anniesland, Baillieston, Bridgeton, Calton, Castlemilk, Drumchapel, Govan, Knightswood, Merchant City, Parkhead, Pollok and Yoker. All 24 community websites can be accessed via www.eveningtimes.co.uk.