Demonstrators made their feelings known as the inquiry began

People dressed in pantomime costumes said that both the proceedings and the plans to extend the M74 are farcical.

They criticised First Minister Jack McConnell for saying he was committed to the project before the inquiry got under way.

The scheme is intended to alleviate traffic congestion through the city.

It is expected the five-mile stretch of road, which will join the M8 near the city centre, will cost up to �500m and if approved could be ready by 2008.

'Monstrous motorway'

The planned motorway extension will join the M74 at Carmyle to the M8 at Kingston, south of Glasgow city centre.

The inquiry into the plans is being held at the Parish Hall in George Street, Glasgow and is expected to last up to five weeks.

It is being conducted by Richard Hickman and Donald Watt, of the Scottish Executive reporters' unit.

The M74 is just one part of the Government's policy for transport and it has a range of policies aimed at improving public transport Ainslie McLaughlin Project manager

There are 370 objectors to the scheme including 41 from people whose businesses or properties are set to be compulsorily purchased.

They claim about 11,000 cars would use the extension and make traffic congestion and pollution worse.

A campaign against the road has been mounted by JAM74 (Joint Action against the M74), a coalition of community, environmental and sustainable transport groups.

Colin Howden, campaign manager of TRANSform Scotland, said: "The executive is crazy to push ahead with this monstrous motorway project when it knows full well that the road will do nothing but increase traffic and worsen the environment across Glasgow."

'Strategic link'

But the man in charge of the executive's scheme said it would be "a main strategic link" between Scotland and England.

Ainslie McLaughlin said neighbouring local authorities supported the scheme and that environmental concerns had been addressed during the design stage.

Giving evidence at the inquiry he said the extension would generate 25,000 jobs by 2030 and was a sensible way to reduce traffic congestion.

Mr McLaughlin said: "The M74 is just one part of the Government's policy for transport and it has a range of policies aimed at improving public transport."

The scheme would "free-up local road space and provide opportunities for improving public transport and accessibility for the people of Glasgow," he added.

'Environmentally just'

Patrick Harvie, the Green MSP for Glasgow region, questioned the first minister's impartiality on the issue and described the executive as "judge, jury and executioner".

He said: "It would be different if the first minister was simply the proposer of the scheme, but in the circumstances it is unacceptable that he should be the one with the final decision."

Friends of the Earth's chief executive Duncan McLaren said the best way to deliver better transport and more jobs in Glasgow would be to immediately drop plans for the M74, and instead invest in sustainable transport projects.