Scottish architectural magazine Prospect has banned the new town and other previous winners from being nominated for the award presented to Scotland's most dismal town.

They have stressed that this is not necessarily because they believe Cumbernauld no longer deserves the award no community wants.

However, the News is able to show there is a lot more to Cumbernauld than megalithic architecture. No other town in Scotland can boast of being home to the nation's other national drink, for example.

And this week, in association with A.G. Barr & Company, whose production plant is in Westfield, and the charity Support our Soldiers, we organised for a consignment of Irn-Bru to be despatched to our thirsty servicemen and women serving their country in foreign climes.

The donation arises out of the incredibly successful Remember our Heroes campaign, which the News has been running in association with its sister Johnston (Falkirk) Ltd publications, including The Falkirk Herald , the Motherwell Times and the Kirkintilloch Herald.

Tonnes of clothing, toiletries, books, non-perishable food items and other gifts have been despatched to help make Christmas a bit more bearable for our heroes.

A highlight of the appeal came in the form of cash gifts from News readers, who specified that the money be spent on Irn-Bru, to give the soldiers a true taste of home.

However Barrs, who were already shipping quantities of the precious liquid to the troops, insisted on providing the Irn-Bru requested, so that the cash could be used in other ways.