City scoops 11th travel award in a row

THE Capital has been named the UK's best city at a prestigious travel awards ceremony - for the 11th year in a row.

Edinburgh once again won the 'best UK city' award at the Guardian & Observer Travel Awards, beating York and Durham into second and third place.

Sinead Feltoe, regional director of national tourism agency VisitScotland, said: "This is great news for Edinburgh.

"Tourism is Scotland's most important industry, with a recent report valuing it at 11 billion. It is the industry which will help to lead Scotland out of recession, and recognition like this shows us that we are not the only ones who think this country is fantastic."

VisitScotland said its UK and international campaigns brought 50 million of spending to Edinburgh last year.

Scottish firm Caledonian Macbrayne was named the best ferry company.