THE Evening Times War on Litter campaign has been highly praised in The Scottish Press Awards.

The paper emerged as Runner-Up in the Campaign of the Year category at the glittering awards ceremony held at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Glasgow city centre.

The hard-hitting campaign which captured the imagination of readers, named and shamed litter louts across the city who had been fined by Glasgow City Council for blighting the city.

It also named businesses which had dumped their rubbish in the streets and backed the £4million Clean Glasgow campaign which prompted the introduction of £50 fines for offenders.

War on Litter prompted a huge response from readers who backed us publishing litter louts' names and addresses.

And city leaders Steven Purcell and Lesley Sawers, formerly of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, and figures from the world of leisure and tourism also welcomed the bold campaign which was spearheaded by reporter Marianne Taylor.

The Scottish Press Awards are now in their 29th year and were established by the Editors' Committee of the Scottish Daily Newspaper Society to highlight the excellent standard of journalism in Scotland, and to promote and encourage professionalism, talent and skills.

A total of 22 categories were open to journalists and photographers working for newspapers and magazines published in Scotland.

The event, hosted by Fiona Armstrong, also saw Herald writer Michael Tierney being named Magazine Writer of the Year and Steven Camley, Cartoonist of the Year.

Its chief sportswriter Hugh MacDonald and business editor Ian McConnell were runners-up in the Sports Feature Writer and Financial/Business Journalist of the Year categories Paul Hutcheon, the Sunday Herald's political editor, was named Journalist of the Year, Political Journalist of the Year and also won Scoop of the Year.

Herald writer Ian Bell was named Columnist of the Year for his work with the Sunday Herald.

The Rt Hon George Reid, chairman of the judging panel, said: "In a very tight field, it was impact, oomph and tenacity that won it."

Evening Times editor Donald Martin said: "The award is recognition for what was a real team effort. The campaign has made a difference with visible improvements across the city and we have no intention of letting up on offenders."