Funding worth £100,000 will be awarded to organisations, groups or individuals who come up with ideas on green transport . The Green Transport Prize is being funded by Edinburgh Napier University, St Andrews University and Edinburgh College, and has been established through the merger of Telford, Stevenson and Jewel and Esk colleges.

The scheme is also being supported by SEStran. A total of £50,000 will be awarded to the top design, and two prizes of £25,000 will be awarded to the runners up. The leading designs will be showcased next May at the Green Transport Prize event, which will be hosted by Edinburgh College and The Scotsman Conferences.

Jewel and Esk College spokesman Steve Tinsley said the aim of the scheme was to encourage green transport solutions that will not only benefit Scotland but which could also be used around the globe. He added that although the prize money was available to designers around the world, he expected enterprising innovations to come from across Scotland.

Themes being suggested for those looking to win funding are logistics and freight, water-based transport solutions, rural transport solutions and green solutions for urban areas.

Tinsley went on to say that he hoped the Green Transport Prize would become an event that takes place every year and makes Scotland a global sustainable transport leader.