Flower blooms during anthem vote

Flower of Scotland is played at rugby and football matches

Flower of Scotland has been named as the "people's choice" as an official national anthem after an online poll.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra asked users of its website to vote for one of five choices.

The other four contenders were Highland Cathedral, Scots Wha Hae, Scotland the Brave and A Man's a Man.

Flower of Scotland came out on top after polling 41% of the 10,000 votes cast. Scotland the Brave received 29%, with Highland Cathedral third on 16%.

The orchestra's chairman, Tom Thomson, said: "It is the choice of the people.

"We had an enormous response to this online vote."

I am thrilled that the RSNO has been able to use its position as Scotland's national orchestra to propel forward the debate on a new national anthem for Scotland Simon Woods RSNO chief executive

The majority of the votes were cast from people in the UK, but there were also responses from people in the US, Canada and more remote locations like Mongolia, New Caledonia and Christmas Island.

People voted after listening to recordings of the songs being played at the Last Night of the Scottish Power Proms in Edinburgh last month.

The results of the poll were announced at the Last Night of the RSNO Proms at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

RSNO chief executive Simon Woods said: "I am thrilled that the RSNO has been able to use its position as Scotland's national orchestra to propel forward the debate on a new national anthem for Scotland."

National debate

First Minister Jack McConnell acknowledged earlier this year that the question of which song represents Scotland at sporting and other events may need to be resolved.

Scots medal winners ascended the rostrum to Scotland the Brave at the Commonwealth Games, while Flower of Scotland is played at rugby and football games.

The Scottish National Party has also called for a decision to be made on a national anthem.

However, a Holyrood committee has dismissed the idea that the Scottish Parliament should launch a national debate.