GLASGOW'S scheme to curb late-night violence in the city centre has proved so successful it's being expanded to other parts of Scotland.

The Nite Zone, which saw increased police patrols around pubs and two supervised transport hubs, in Gordon Street and Sauchiehall Street, led to a drop of up to 30% in attacks.

Now Edinburgh City Council is looking at introducing the scheme while Renfrewshire Council wants to launch it in Johnstone and Renfrew and widen an existing scheme in Paisley.

A Safe Ayr Weekend Zone is also being expanded to protect revellers in the run-up to the festive season after organisers looked at the Glasgow model.

A report by Glasgow Community and Safety Services, the partnership behind Nite Zone, says: "The Nite Zone model is being copied in Edinburgh, Ayr and Renfrewshire."

Glasgow's Nite Zone was launched in December 2005 in a bid to get people out of the city more quickly after a night out.

Last month local authorities were invited to apply for £1million of community safety cash released by the Scottish Government.

The Government praised the Glasgow Nite Zone and the city was awarded £100,000, which will help fund a mobile medical unit and a first aid post as part of the scheme over the festive period.

Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, head of the Scotland-wide Violence Reduction Unit, said: "The sort of thing Glasgow is doing, like the late Nite Zone, is making a real difference.

"Hopefully that will now lead on to similar successes in towns and cities across Scotland."

Today both Renfrewshire and South Ayrshire councils confirmed they are bidding for a slice of the cash to make their town centres safer.

A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: "We are currently looking at expanding our Nite Zone projects.

"The Scottish Government's guidance on cutting alcohol-related violence recommends providing Night Zones."

Louise Fyfe, community safety manager for South Ayrshire Council, said the Safe Ayr Weekend Zone had helped tackle violent crime in Ayr town centre.

Now they hope to secure £30,000 to fund taxi marshalls at the town's Station Road queue and increase patrols in the Burns Statue Square area.

Meanwhile, talks about launching a Nite Zone in Glasgow's West End are still ongoing.

Phil Walker, managing director of Glasgow Community and Safety Services, said: "We are currently in planning discussions with Strathclyde Police, Glasgow City Council, night-time businesses and other partners about the feasibility and cost effectiveness of a Nite Zone in that part of the city."