Organisers of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have received more than 50,000 applications for volunteers.

The team behind the Games said they are thrilled with the response, after appealing for up to 15,000 helpers to come forward.

They said the 50,811 figure is higher than previous volunteer applications for both the Manchester and Melbourne Games, in 2002 and 2006 respectively.

Almost a fifth (18 per cent) of those offering to help are under 18, and 38 per cent are aged between 16 and 25.

The majority of the applications (61 per cent) were from females.

The deadline for would-be helpers to apply was Thursday and organisers will now start sorting through forms and arranging interviews for later this year.

Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg said: “We are delighted with the numbers.

“We have received a record number of applicants and all those who have applied are already helping Glasgow 2014 make history.

“Scots are famed for being generous with their time and have a real heritage of volunteering and it’s fantastic to see them, along with people from across the UK and internationally, come forward in such numbers to support the Games.”

Valerie Mitchell, head of Games Workforce at Glasgow 2014, said:

“We are thrilled with the interest and to have such a great mix of people apply to be part of the Games.

“This is the first time that those from the age of 16 have been able to apply for volunteer roles at a global sporting event of this scale, so it has been fantastic to see such a positive response from this age group.

“Their contribution in creating a tone and feel for the Games will be really important.

“Our next steps are to begin the hard task of sifting through applications. We will be inviting people to interview any time from April until December of this year.”