AN Edinburgh-based cartoonist has been named best emerging talent in this year's British Comics Awards announced at the weekend.

Will Morris, whose graphic novel The Silver Darlings is set in the ­declining Ayrshire fishing industry in the 1960s, claimed the honour.

"I was completely taken by surprise," Morris said yesterday.

"I think it's such a strong line-up. That was the most exciting thing. Just how many great books are ­actually available."

The awards, which are now in their second year also gave awards to Glyn Dillon for his novel The Nao of Brown as best book and a lifetime achievement award to the Beano cartoonist Leo Baxendale, the creator of such classic strips as Minnie the Minx and The Bash Street Kids.