A regional daily newspaper has launched a project to highlight the 100 most influential people in its patch.

Dundee-based The Courier has created Impact 100, a list of the year’s most influential people who live, work or were born in “Courier Country” across Perth and Kinross, Dundee, Angus or Fife council areas.

The paper’s initiative, sponsored by Alliance Trust, started on Monday with the individuals ranked from 100 to 80 who were detailed in an eight-page supplement.

And The Courier will unveil another 20 people each day until the most influential individual is revealed on Friday in a 16-page pull-out.

Editor Richard Neville said: “This exciting new campaign aims to acknowledge individuals who have inspired, charmed or influenced change across our communities in the last 12 months.

“We want to honour these people, recognise the outstanding contribution they have made and celebrate the rich seam of champions we have across Courier Country.

“It is hoped that this very special initiative will encourage lively debate and our aspiration is to build on this and turn Impact 100 into a greatly anticipated annual event.”

A panel of seven senior journalists from The Courier, including Richard, features editor Catriona MacInnes, news editor Dave Lord and business editor Graham Huband, selected the final 100 from a shortlist of 500 people and debated which position each should take.

Richard added: “Impact 100 is unlike anything The Courier has done, and is part of our aim to create a newspaper that is easy to pick up, but difficult to put down.”