A LEADING councillor has called on council bosses to pledge that they will not put Blackburn with Darwen through the 'humiliation' of a city status contest again.

The town lost out to Preston in a bid to be declared England's Jubilee City.

A council spokesman said it was too early to say if the council would bid for the honour again.

Today, Coun Paul Browne, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "I hope they have finally got the message.

"We are not a city. We never will be in my opinion. They keep putting us in these competitions and we are embarrassed when we lose. It is humiliating to be told we are not good enough.

"The £9,000 spent could be much better used elsewhere, serving the taxpayers of this borough."

But Council leader Bill Taylor said: "Coun Browne should have more pride and ambition. We have no idea when the next opportunity to bid for city status will be and it would be foolish to commit ourselves now.

"We will look at it as and when it comes up. Circumstances change. It was always a longshot because we are not as attractive a package as other towns.

"But we are ambitious and it is a shame Coun Browne does not share in that."

Among the people who backed Blackburn with Darwen's bid was the Bishop of Blackburn, whose diocese covers Preston.

The Rt Rev Alan Chesters said today: "I would like to congratulate Preston on this honour.

"It must have been a very difficult decision for the Lord Chancellor to make, given the strong bids from a number of towns in Lancashire.

"I am delighted for Preston and hope the enhanced status will bring much prosperity to the new city and to Lancashire."