As someone who is an old-fashioned romantic at heart, I am quite tickled by the idea of a festival celebrating all the good things in life

Glasgow City Council leader Charles Gordon

The remains were said to have been brought to Glasgow by a Franciscan.

Other parts of St Valentine's remains are said to lie in churches in Dublin and Rome.

The �50,000 festival of love will run from 9 to 17 February.

Glasgow City Council commissioned a �5,000 feasibility study into the idea last year.

The campaign was fronted by actor David Hayman, who has played a number of Glasgow hard men in films such as My Name Is Joe and A Sense of Freedom.

It has been backed by the city council, Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourist Board and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

Something to celebrate

The aim is to attract visitors to the city at a traditionally quiet time of year.

Glasgow City Council leader Charles Gordon said the festival was "very appropriate" for the city.

"People may or may not know that some of the remains of St Valentine are here in a Gorbals church, and that is something to celebrate," he said.

The festival will last for nine days

"It may seem strange to outsiders that a city with an alleged reputation like Glasgow's would be hosting a celebration of love.

"But as someone who is an old-fashioned romantic at heart I am quite tickled by the idea of a festival celebrating all the good things in life."

The highlights of the event will include a St Valentine's Ball, street theatre, classical music concerts, love comedy clubs and a mini film festival showing romantic movies like Casablanca and Brief Encounter.

Lord Provost Alex Mosson said: "We are hoping people will come here to visit and perhaps honeymoon couples will choose it as their destination.

"It's important for us to try and promote all aspects of the city and we should be proud to be associated with St Valentine."