Perth is to be Scotland's seventh city courtesy of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

City status was removed from Scotland's first capital as part of local government re-organisation in 1975 but it has always retained its unofficial title of the Fair City, and has now seen that confirmed.

Perth was one of 25 towns across the UK which applied for the jubilee competition. Two other UK towns, Chelmsford in England and St Asaph in Wales, will also become cities.

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Scotland's other cities are Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This is fantastic news for the City of Perth and indeed for the whole of Scotland. To have the title of City restored rightly to this ancient capital is entirely fitting during this Diamond Jubilee Year.

"Praise is due to the people who have worked hard to make Perth’s case, in particular the Provost John Hulbert and Lord Lieutenant Mel Jamieson. Their dedication has resulted in a celebration for the Fair City’s people and a recognition of what Perth means to Scotland.

"Now we can look forward to an exciting future building on an already dynamic city which will deliver further success economically to the local community and more widely. Well done to the Fair City."

(GK)