Stirling effort 'shines through'

Stirling was one of the four towns competing

Stirling has beaten off other contenders to be declared a Scottish city, BBC Scotland understands.

It is believed to have seen off a challenge from Ayr, Dumfries and Paisley to take the title, which will be conferred as part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations.

The competition was run by the Lord Chancellor's Department to mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.

City status is rarely granted

Stirling is expected to join ranks with the other Scottish cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.

It competed with Paisley and Ayr in an earlier city status competition arranged as part of the Millennium celebrations but lost out to Inverness in 2000.

Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell said all four towns had submitted "strong applications" for the latest competition.

The honour will also be conferred on towns in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

City status is a rare mark of distinction granted by personal Command of the Queen and conferred by Letters Patent.

Civic leaders in Stirling will hope confirmation of city status will act as a further boost to tourism and the local economy.

The town's population is scheduled to rise by more than 10% in the next decade, in contrast to a decline in most parts of Scotland.