BOLTON has failed in its bid to become a city.

Chelmsford, Perth and St Asaph, have been given city status to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the government said today.

Bolton had faced competition from Stockport, Reading, St Austell in Cornwall and Medway in Kent, among others.

The council’s official city bid document was sent to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg last May.

Armagh in Northern Ireland has been granted a lord mayoralty.

The awards have been made by the Queen on the advice of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, following a competition to bid for civic honours launched in December 2010.

Mr Clegg said the decision to award a new city in England, Scotland and Wales, and a lord mayoralty in Northern Ireland, reflected the significance of every part of the United Kingdom in diamond jubilee year.

"Across the United Kingdom, I have been moved by the pride and passion which people have shown in putting their nominations forward," he said.

"The standard of application was very high, and those who missed out should not be downhearted.

"I hope the competition has given the residents of all of the places which applied a sense of civic pride, of collective ownership and of community spirit."

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Cliff Morris, said: "We put in a bid for the official recognition, which we believe Bolton rightly deserved, so we are naturally disappointed not to have been selected.

"However, the process has given us the opportunity to promote all that is good about Bolton. Bolton is a vibrant town with much to offer and we are working hard to regenerate it for the benefit of all our communities.

"We are confident that Bolton will continue to go from strength to strength and we will continue to strive to make this happen. We would like to thank everyone for their support and belief in Bolton."