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A POLICE chief yesterday condemned booze-fuelled mayhem at an unofficial royal wedding party and called for government action to tackle Scotland's drink problem.

Strathclyde chief constable Stephen House spoke out as a taxi driver fought for his life after his cab crashed with a police van racing to the party riot.

Friday''s disturbance in Glasgow''s Kelvingrove Park led to 22 arrests and 11 officers being injured.

House said: "The scenes are nothing short of a disgrace. On a day when the whole country was bathed in sunshine and united in celebration, a group of drunken louts brought violence to our city and shame to our country.

"I have said this over and over again. Something needs to be done about our relationship with alcohol. Whoever forms the next government must do something about it.

We've talked about action for too long. The time for talk has passed. We cannot go on like this."

The injured 65-year-old taxi driver was last night in intensive care in hospital after the crash involving his Fiat Doblo and the police Ford Transit at the junction of Dorchester Avenue and Great Western Road at around 5.40pm on Friday.

The taxi's passenger and two officers were treated for minor injuries.

The driver was rushed to the city's Western Infirmary where doctors yesterday described his condition as serious.

Officers from Fife Constabulary are to be drafted in to investigate how the accident happened.

Liam Hastie, 28, of Anniesland, Glasgow, said: "I walked passed the crash just a couple of minutes after it happened. The airbags in the police van had been deployed and both vehicles looked wrecked. I knew right away it was serious and someone had been badly injured."

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said the police van had its emergency lights and siren in use at the time.

Around 5000 revellers headed to the open-air party which had been organised on Facebook to celebrate Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton.

But violence erupted when thugs started throwing bricks, bottles and cans at police. They also smashed up police vehicles and vandalised them with spray paint.

Mounted police had to charge at yobs. The park was finally cleared at around 9pm - four hours after violence erupted.

Two men appeared in court in the city yesterday on charges connected with the disturbance.

Raymond Clarkson, 24, of Maxwell Drive, Glasgow, was remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty to throwing a glass bottle into a crowd of people and possessing cannabis.

Jordan Sweeney, 20, of Glasgow Road, Milngavie, was bailed after pleading not guilty to obstructing police and swearing and shouting homophobic insults at officers.

Sweeney is due to appear in court again on June 29. Clarkson will appear on May 31.