Glasgow is hoping to lure lovers

The campaign to get the festival up and running is being fronted by actor David Hayman, who has played a number of Glasgow hard men, including a Ruchill drug dealer in My Name Is Joe and Jimmy Boyle in A Sense of Freedom.

Glasgow City Council leader Charles Gordon said: "When David Hayman came to see me I was slightly doubtful, but we now believe this is a very solid idea.

"What makes it particularly attractive is the possibility of using the River Clyde for romantic cruises."

"A mini-festival around St Valentine's day can only add to its (the city's) selling points."

Disputed remains

The remains of St Valentine, martyred in 269AD, were said to have been brought to Glasgow by a Franciscan.

They are displayed at the Blessed St John Duns Scotus church in the Gorbals.

However, the Scottish claims to have the mortal remains of St Valentine may not find favour in Ireland, where they are said to be held in a casket at Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin.

The Irish say they were passed on as a gift from Pope Gregory XVI to the respected Dublin Carmelite Father John Spratt.