GLASGOW has seen off a rival bid to host the prestigious World Pipe Band Championships.

The city has landed the contract to host the annual contest until 2012, an achievement which will generate around £10million for the area.

However, for the first time, Glasgow faced fierce competition - from Belfast - to stage the globally renowned event.

The Worlds' have been associated with Glasgow since 1948, but their major international profile sparked a bidding war.

Glasgow had already secured the contract to host this year's event at Glasgow Green on August 16 as well as next year's championships.

But Belfast fancied its chances of winning one of the most colourful spectacles in Glasgow's annual calendar over the years from 2010 to 2012.

The Championships attract more than 8000 pipers and drummers from across the globe as they compete for the coveted World title.

The event has been staged outside Scotland only twice; in Belfast in 1962 and Corby, Northamptonshire in 1975 and has been in Glasgow since 1983, apart from in 1985 when Hamilton was host.

The city's bid to retain the Championships was presented to the National Council of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association by Glasgow City Council, Culture and Sport Glasgow and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.

Scott Taylor, chief executive of the bureau, said: "Securing the Worlds' for the full three years is a ringing endorsement of the city's bid and the partnership behind it."

During the event Glasgow Green is alive with Highland dancers, Euro Highland Games, a craft, trade and food village, and a Drum Major competition.

The most successful bands in the competition are Strathclyde Police Pipe Band (20 wins), and the House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band with 15.

Ian Embelton of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association said: "We are delighted to continue our association with Glasgow and have been impressed with the city council's proposals to develop the Championships."