Chorus of approval for top Scot Susan Boyle

SUSAN BOYLE has been named Scot of the year - knocking disgraced politician Tommy Sheridan into second place.

The singer won the yearly award with 95 per cent of the vote. The 2010 Scot of the Year Competition - organised by the charity ScotsCare - had been criticised after convicted perjurer Tommy Sheridan was allowed to compete for the award despite facing a jail term

In the end, the former MSP finished second with 3 per cent of the vote, with Ewan McGregor coming third.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie was fourth, while Andy Robinson - the English coach of the Scottish rugby team - made up the top five.

A spokesman for ScotsCare defended the decision to include Sheridan in the competition and said he was nominated "for showing his fighting spirit".

He said: "He was suggested at a regular client lunch for his fighting spirit. The shortlist is purely based on voting figures."

Sheridan was named as one of 12 original finalists of the annual contest at the beginning of December while his trial was ongoing.

ScotsCare helps Scottish people in the London area with issues such as employment. The group also assists elderly people and the homeless, and holds regular lunches and events to build a "Scottish community" in one of the world's largest cities.

Last year's winner was the actor Gerard Butler.