The dirtiest city in Britain has come up smelling of roses in a national beauty competition.
Aberdeen is one of five Scots finalists tipped to win the Britain in Bloom competition this year - just four months after it was branded an eyesore.
Council officials were stun-ned when the oil capital of Scotland plunged to the bottom of the Tidy Britain cleanliness league last April.
They carried out a stringent clean-up campaign which included on-the-spot fines for litter louts and a special clean-up phone line.
Now city fathers are fighting to redeem its reputation and transform the area back to Scotland's ''city of roses''. The award, which Aberdeen has won 10 times in the past 30 years, goes to the city with the most attractive civic and private parks and gardens.
But the overall local environment will also be taken into account.
Horticultural services officer at Aberdeen City Council Doug Stuart said: ''We are delighted that Aberdeen has once again been nominated for this award. We have worked hard to get the gardens and parks in ship shape and I am sure we will do well again this year.''
A spokesman for the council's environmental and consumer protection service department, Howard Kershaw said: ''It is important to have the city look good, not just for the visitors, but for residents.
''We are obviously concerned at how the city looks and would love to see Aberdeen scoop the award again.
He added: ''We have been concentrating on trying to educate the public to help solve the litter problem in the city and will continue to do so.''
The five Scottish communities - the others are Forres, Beauly, Fort Augustus and Perth are among 56 UK finalists who were selected from more than 1300 entrants. the results will be announced on October 1.
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