The town that's proud to be called a carbuncle

IT IS the award that nobody wants to receive.

• It may not be pretty, but Denny looks dramatic crowned with a rainbow yesterday. Residents hope its new-found fame will lead to improvements

When John O'Groats won the dubious honour of topping this year's Carbuncle Awards, judges were unable to find anyone to present the trophy to.

But one town's misfortune is another's opportunity - and now a group of residents from Denny, one of the runners-up, has stepped forward to claim the prize in the hope that it will kick-start regeneration of the Stirlingshire town.

Organisers of the awards, which highlight poor urban design, singled out John o' Groats for its reliance on "tourist tat" and over-commercialisation, while criticising the area's "clutter of timber huts, caravans and untended landscaping".

The Denny campaign group, called Walk Around the Block, decided to ask the award organisers, Urban Realm, magazine to give the "Plook on the Plinth" trophy to them instead.

The group, who have likened their town to Beirut, say it could help a campaign for improvements. They believe boarded-up blocks of flats in the town centre are an eyesore which need to be tackled by Falkirk Council.

Brian McCabe, a member of the group, said: "What we are hoping to buy into is Urban Realm's expertise with architects, design specialists, who can bring something to the table.

"Denny is a lovely town," he added. "Unfortunately, as soon as you turn right at Denny Cross, you then have to navigate down the main street of Denny, and that's where Denny fails. On a bad day it looks like Beirut.

"The only living residents of the place are probably in the region of 5,000 pigeons. The place is damp. It's a blot on the landscape. It damages my town."John Glenday, spokesman for the Carbuncle Awards, said: "Having been sent homewards to think again by the inhabitants of John O'Groats, we are pleased that the 'Plook' has found a loving home after all.

"That is why we're pleased to announce that Denny is to be given the honour of hosting the trophy in John o' Groats's stead," said Mr Glenday.

"It's never been simple finding a willing recipient for our bulbous pimple, so to have such eager solicitation for it really is unprecedented."

However, not everyone was happy at receiving the trophy.

Falkirk Council leader Craig Martin said: "It is deeply disappointing that anyone in Denny thinks this is a positive move for the town.

"The council has no interest in the Carbuncle Awards - our priority is transforming Denny town centre."

Previous recipients of the Carbuncle Award include Cumbernauld, Airdrie and Coatbridge.

John o' Groats, which attracts 112,000 tourists and marathon competitors a year, has plans to create 16 eco-friendly, self-catering lodges and a visitor centre from the shell of the rundown landmark hotel.

John Green, chairman of the local community council in John O'Groats, said: "The award was not offered to anyone here, but I don't think they would have taken it anyway.

"Denny is welcome to it."