KIZZY TAYLOR

Scotland has been given permission to break away from the UK and submit its own entry to the Eurovision song contest.

The competition's organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), said there was nothing to prevent Scotland from entering on its own merit. It means that broadcasters BBC, ITV, STV and Border Television, which are all members of the EBU, could submit an entry.

Their ruling comes after intense lobbying from Alyn Smith, an SNP member of the European Parliament.

He said: "Other small countries have done it and I will be happy to help any of the broadcasting companies through the process."