BLACKBURN with Darwen could be the millennium's first new city if a town hall bid to upgrade from a town is approved by the Queen.

But the borough faces very tough competition from elsewhere in the British Isles if it is to become East Lancashire's city.

Two new cities will have been created by the year 2002, one to mark the millennium and the other for the Queen's golden anniversary on the throne.

Reporter PAUL SMITH looks at the growing list of towns from all points north, south, east and west which are vying for the accolade. WHEN Sunderland became Britain's newest city in 1992 rival bidders from all over the country were surprised as to who won the race.

The bookmakers had not placed Sunderland at the top of their list of favourites, but the north eastern town was chosen as a new city to mark the 40th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.

The people of Sunderland are still basking in the afterglow of their success.

Officers from the metropolitan council in the city say they have been inundated with calls from towns bidding to be Britain's millennium city. And if Sunderland's experience is anything to go by, Blackburn is in for golden times ahead if it wins either of the city contests in 2000 or 2002.

Since the city announcement Sunderland has:

Become the fastest growing automotive centre in Britain with its Nissan car plant.

Seen its polytechnic upgraded to University status.

Attracted more tourists to its new National Glass Centre, football ground the Stadium of Light and Sunderland International Airshow.

Seen the town centre church St Michael's upgraded to the status of a Minster.

Become very successful at attracting outside investment with more than 8,500 jobs created in the last three years.

City hall spokesman Julie Elliott said: "Our city status bid was deliberately restrained in style.

"A simple eight page document outlined the record of achievement and prospects for Sunderland's future. In particular it stressed the powerful sense of community and the patriotic efforts of the people of Sunderland."

As the list of towns bidding to be Britain's next new city grows, town hall leaders in Blackburn and elsewhere are conscious of the unpredictability involved. Already council staff putting together Blackburn's bid know they face stiff competition from neighbouring towns.

PRESTON has drawn up its bid, which has won the backing of Lancashire County Council.

The headquarters of the Lancashire police, fire and ambulance services are based there, it is a garrison town, has a university, and is a major crown court centre.

STOCKPORT has also drawn up a bid - having been beaten into second place by Sunderland in 1992.

Once one of Cheshire's major towns, Stockport is now a large metropolitan borough to the south of Manchester with one of its distinguishing features being a 27 arch railway viaduct, through the centre of the town, built in 1840.

BOLTON has yet to draw up its bid but a town hall spokesman said it was "more than likely that the town would be throwing its hat in the ring soon.

Once England's largest town, Bolton now has one of the North West's most popular shopping centres and is bidding to upgrade its town college to university status.

But the list of rivals does not end there. Towns from the south coast and right through the Midlands also want to become the country's newest city and are drawing up very strong bids to compete with Blackburn and Darwen. BRIGHTON has bid to join Portsmouth and Southampton as a south coast city. A popular holiday destination, the Sussex resort is famous for its Royal Pavilion and is a favourite conference venue.

CROYDON, a large borough on the outskirts of London, has bid to become a city in its own right.

Boasting a city sized population of 320,000 Croydon was once a Roman settlement.

SWINDON would become the south west's newest city if its bid is successful.

Once a railway engineering centre for the Great Western Railway it has successfully converted itself from an old market town to a modern industrial town. COLCHESTER claims to be the oldest town in England and is home to the University of Essex while the 'new town' of MILTON KEYNES in Buckinghamshire, the home of the Open University, has also drawn up a bid which has been submitted to the Queen.

IPSWICH in Suffolk is bidding to gain equal status with its traditional East Anglian rival Norwich, which already has city status while, in the Midlands, WOLVERHAMPTON is the number one contender and has drawn up a bid which it hopes will put the town on an equal footing to its neighbour Birmingham.

Bids have to be submitted to the Home Office by the end of spring and a decision will be made in the autumn, by Home officials on behalf of the Queen.

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Malcolm Doherty acknowledges that the borough faces a real battle if it is to come out as victor and become a city.

He added: "I certainly don't think it will be any easier than last time, because plenty of towns are now becoming proficient at putting these bids in.

"But we are still very optimistic and believe we have an excellent case to put forward."

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