Aberdeen's UK City of Culture 2017 team appointed

The team to head Aberdeen's bid to become the UK City of Culture 2017 has now been appointed, BBC Scotland can reveal.

Rita Stephen - currently with the local economic forum Acsef - is bid manager.

Ektor Tsatsoulis is the bid co-ordinator, joining from the team trying to win the European City of Culture bid for Paphos in Cyprus.

Richard Stewart - attached to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London - is bid funding and international officer.

And the position of press officer is taken up by Andrew Learmonth.

Mr Learmonth joins the city council-funded bid from the National Theatre of Scotland.

In 2009, Aberdeen withdrew its bid to become the UK's City of Culture for 2013 due to council finances.