North Berwick's Scottish Seabird Centre has won the prestigious VisitScotland Tourism Business of the Year Award.

The award was announced at the 2008 National Business Awards for Scotland, sponsored by Orange, when 500 business leaders, press and other VIPs attended a ceremony at the Hilton Glasgow Hotel, hosted by BBC television Reporting Scotland presenter David Robertson. The judges commented that, since opening in 2000, the Scottish Seabird Centre had become a landmark tourist destination and community asset, helping to revitalise North Berwick and its historic harbour area. The five star award-winning Scottish Seabird Centre stood out as an outstanding organisation that successfully attracts visitors globally and supports and develops its business to the mutual benefit of tourists and the local community.

VisitScotland sponsors the Tourism Business of the Year Award category, recognising success, innovation and ethics across all market sectors, and it is one of the most prestigious business award schemes in Scotland. The nominations for this year's awards were:

* The National Trust for Scotland * Heritage Portfolio

* Scottish Seabird Centre * Nae Limits

* The Real Mary King's Close