City Bids Submitted

31 May 2011, 11:45 | Updated: 31 May 2011, 11:55

The towns hoping to be given city status by the Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year have submitted their bids.

A medieval knight, a Viking, a steel worker and even Robin Hood travelled from Corby to London on Friday 27 May 2011 to deliver Corby's bid.

Milton Keynes sent their bid by courier the same morning, while a delegation of MPs and schoolchildren from Luton travelled on two buses on Tuesday 24 May 2011 to deliver Luton's bid.

In all, more than 20 towns across the country want to become cities.  Among the other applicants are Reading, Swindon, Middlesborough, Medway, Bolton, Chelmsford, Stockport, Perth, Gateshead, Ballymena, Guildford, Southend-on-Sea, Ipswich, Wrexham, Croydon and St Austell.

A decision on which applicants have been successful is due in February 2012.