A COUNCIL leader today hit out at the Government for taking 18 months to make a decision about awarding city status to Blackburn.

Blackburn with Darwen first decided to bid for the title two years ago when it was announced a new city would be created to mark the millennium and another for the Queen's golden jubilee in 2002.

The bid was submitted after a special launch ceremony at Blackburn Cathedral in August last year.

But the Millennium is now almost over and no decision has yet been made about which town is to be granted the honour, which is likely to bring jobs and money to the region.

Leader, Coun Malcolm Doherty said: "It is time the decision was made. We were told it would be made early this year but it has been put back and put back."

"Although there aren't a great deal of direct financial benefits, it would keep us in the national eye."

A senior Home Office source said the decision was due next month and it had been delayed when a memo assessing different towns' chances had been leaked

Home Office minister Mike O'Brien decided to give the bidding towns a chance to make further submissions. Home Secretary Jack Straw has delegated the decision to Mr O'Brien because of Blackburn's bid and has taken no part in the process.

Jack Straw said: "I understand Blackburn's frustrations about this but as I am the MP for Blackburn I am completely out of the ministerial loop.

"I have seen no more papers on this than journalists - or probably rather fewer." A Home Office spokesman said the Government had not yet decided how many towns would be granted city status and there was no limit on the number that may be granted the honour. Blackburn Cathedral formed the centrepiece of the bid -- Blackburn is one of only two places in the country to have a cathedral but not city status. The other is Chelmsford.

Blackburn is competing against other North West towns including Stockport, Preston and Bolton, as well as Croydon, Colchester, Swindon and Milton Keynes. Current favourite to win is Stirling, Scotland.

William Hill gave Blackburn 33-1 odds of winning, Preston was 20-1 and Bolton 25-1.