Inverness set to back Perth's bid for city status

Inverness beat Ayr, Paisley and Stirling to become a city in 2001

Inverness looks set to give its official support to Perth's bid for city status through the backing of Highland Council.

The Highland capital beat off competition from Ayr, Paisley and Stirling to become a city in 2001.

Councillors will be asked next week to agree that the authority gives Perth and Kinross Council its full backing.

Perth is bidding to be made a city in a UK-wide competition set up to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee next year.

The town had previously held the title, but it was removed in 1975 as part of a local government reorganisation.

Scotland currently has six cities. The newest are Stirling and Inverness, which joined Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.