Chances of a merger between Glasgow's two largest congregations - Newton Mearns and Giffnock and Newlands - have been significantly improved by a meeting of the shuls' joint committees.

Representatives agreed to give the merger proposal serious consideration and arrange a meeting of both congregations, likely to take place in the new year at the Giffnock function suite.

If plans progress, each congregation would vote on the merger at EGMs.

Newton Mearns chair Brian Fox said the latest meeting was "a big step forward. If you had said to anyone back in February that we'd have got more than 30 people round the table and for them to agree, they'd have been very surprised.

"Location is a big question," he added. "Creative solutions need to be discussed. People don't like chage. They get understandably nervous but they adapt."