THOUSANDS of Scots have voted to secure their favourite contestant a place in the finals for a top award.

The Scottish public voted in their thousands to whittle down hundreds of entrants for the 2015 Scottish Home Improvement Awards to just 95 finalists.

Finalists will now battle it out to take home the top prize in one of 17 categories, including architects, bathroom and flooring, by providing three statements from previous customers to provide evidence of their past work.

This year, several Glasgow based business are in the running for the awards, which are free to enter, including Voyage Decorations who are nominated in the wall coverings category and Cameron Interiors who are hoping to bag a prize in the kitchen category, as well as Vista Patio Rooms who are in the running for the outdoor leisure award.

Other candidates hail from areas around the country, such as Edinburgh, Falkirk and Troon.

Emma Bashford, Event manager for Paramount Creative, said she was “blown over by the response”.

She added: “ The competitors have really got behind the awards this year, each and every one was desperate to make the final, but unfortunately we only had 95 places.

"We are ecstatic with the public voting, for a first year event the support from everyone has been amazing.”

Finalists will now have a gruelling wait to discover if they have bagged the top prize in their respective categories at the national award ceremony, which will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Friday August 21.

Around 500 guests are expected to attend the event, which is in association with Trade Point and is sponsored by both The Evening Times and our sister paper The Herald, as well as Light Nightclub, Glasgow Academy Musical Theatre Arts and Glasgow taxis.

Digital and social media partner for the event, Fatbuzz, Topspech Contracts,the Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installers,Wired and Paramount are also sponsoring the awards.

The winners will be announced at the glittering gala final, which will see performance by comedian Des Clarke and The Voice and X Factor sensation Barbara Bryceland.

60-minute makeover star and interior design guru John Amabile, will host the inaugural event.

He said: "I am delighted to be working with the awards to help reward the best in the trade”.

Tickets are now on sale for the gala final, and can be purchased by contacting organisers Paramount Creative, www.paramountcreative.co.uk.