Third time lucky for bid?

The council is hoping it will be third time lucky next year after missing out on the accolade in the past two contests.

As Britain's biggest town, with a population of around 265,000, backers believe Bolton has a compelling case which cannot be ignored forever.

The council is expected to enter the fray again for the Queen's Jubilee next year when she has announced plans to create further cities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to mark 50 years on the throne.

Bolton could have the added status of a Premiership soccer team and will take its place on the world stage as it hosts Commonwealth Games events, including badminton.

Cllr Bob Howarth, council leader, criticised the selection process last December after the dream of being given the honour to mark the Millennium was dashed.

Brighton and Hove, Inverness and Wolverhampton were chosen instead.

At the time, Cllr Howarth said: "The choice is not objective and is a mish-mash of different considerations.

"Whether we would wish to continue getting involved in this lottery in the next few years I'm not sure."

The blow followed another unsuccessful application for city status in 1992 when Bolton lost out to Sunderland.

Cllr Howarth said a new approach to the biddng process might need to be adopted.

He said: "We haven't been successful previously so maybe a new strategy is required. We think a bid through the town's Vision Partnership would be the way forward."

Only 17 towns have been promoted to cities in the last century. Although the title carries no special privileges the prestige involved is thought to give towns an economic boost and help raise their profile.

A leaked Home Office memo last year described Bolton as "lacking in royal associations and history" -- a description lambasted by local figures like steeplejack Fred Dibnah, who highlighted the town's role in the industrial revolution.

But backers of the bid will draw comfort from the memo going on to call Bolton a "lively, thriving town".