Eighteen groups tackling sectarianism in communities across Scotland are to benefit from £2 million government cash.

The projects have been selected for the latest round of funding from a £9m pot over three years to 2015.

The local campaigns are seeking to change attitudes in the workplace and on football terraces through workshops, drama and dialogue.

Community Safety Minister Roseanna Cunningham announced the list at the launch of a Youth Scotland project, Stand Up To Sectarianism Phase 2, in Glasgow.

The group recently received £135,000 to help tackle sectarianism through peer education.

The latest recipients include Royston Youth Action's Respect for Everyone campaign in Glasgow and Supporters Direct's The Colour of Our Scarves project in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Dundee and Hamilton.

South West Scotland Sectarian Project and Iona Community's Beyond Sectarianism will also receive cash.

Ms Cunningham said: "We believe the solution to ending the scourge of sectarianism in society lies in and with our communities. This has been borne out by the Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland and through the excellent work of groups like Youth Scotland whose work is already making our communities safer.

"We are confident the projects we are supporting today will also tackle sectarianism at its roots, helping to finally consign such outdated prejudices to history."

Engender, whose project ARTiculate will work with women in eight Scottish communities from Aberdeen to South Ayrshire, welcomed the funding.

Convener Marsha Scott said: "This will make it possible for us to identify the links between gender and the experience of sectarianism in communities.

"We hope to bring women's perspectives to this challenging area of the work we do."