GLASGOW has been crowned the best place in Scotland to hold an event.

Some of the city's festivals and venues took all the top prizes last night in a new Scotland-wide awards scheme.

Hundreds of people at the Glasgow Science Centre saw Glasgow City Council win the Best Arts Event title for Radiance, Glasgow's International Festival Of Light.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau took the prize for Best Large Festival for last year's River Festival, while Celtic Connections lifted the title for Best Multi-Venue Festival.

The Evening Times is involved as a media partner with both these events.

The River Festival saw the Clyde burst into life as speedboats, Zapcats, jet skis and tall ships took to the water.

Visitor numbers are increasing every year with 85,000 people at the event last year and 87,000 this summer.

Celtic Connections in January sees hundreds of events involving top musicians.

It is Scotland's biggest winter music festival, with names such as Teenage Fanclub, Eddi Reader, Runrig, Joan Baez, Bob Geldof and Capercaillie having all taken to the stage.

The Scottish Events Awards, run by Glasgow-based publishers the Carnyx Group, were organised to celebrate the wide range and size of events across Scotland.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "The city has a long tradition of hosting all sorts of major events. This is proven by our winning bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

"We are delighted with these awards."

Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens in the West End picked up the Best Small Traditional Venue award, with Best Large Traditional Venue going to another hotel, the Radisson SAS Glasgow in Argyle Street.

House For An Art Lover in Bellahouston Park won Best Small Unusual Venue, while the Science Centre won Best Large Unusual Venue.

The Old Fruitmarket in the Merchant City was Best Large Unusual Venue For Hospitality.

The Arches nightclub took the Best Marketing Strategy award for its Death Disco and Glasgow Audi and Conference and Event Centre at Braehead won Best Exhibition And Conference Centre In Scotland.