BOLTON has failed to win city status this year -- but pride of Bolton is still running high and spirits have not been dampened.

The town was beaten to the coveted honour, to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations, by Lancashire rival Preston.

Town hall chiefs today expressed their disappointment over the decision, but have hinted that they may try again.

Mayor Cllr Kevan Helsby said: "We must wish the winners well, but we will never give up on the town. It is one of the largest and most successful in the country. I think our bid for city status was excellent.

"Preston is smaller but it is the old county town of Lancashire, home of local government and well established."

A total of 42 towns, 26 in England, applied to become cities under the Queen's Golden Jubilee Scheme. Newport, Stirling, Lisburn and Newry were also winners and a Lord Mayoralty was awarded to Exeter.

City status is sparingly bestowed as a mark of special distinction and only 17 grants were made last century.

Bolton's bid was centred around people rather than its location or buildings and civic leaders had hoped it would be third time lucky in its application entitled: "Bolton, because people make a city."

Bolton Council Leader Cllr Bob Howarth, said: "Naturally we are disappointed that Bolton has not won the accolade and the kudos that comes with it, but we are not downhearted and will carry on with our programme to make Bolton a better place in which to live, work and do business.

"Bolton has a tremendous amount going for it and a growing community spirit.

"The bid was based on Bolton's people and I am sure this will only bid a temporary set back for them.

"There is the Commonwealth Games to look forward to and we have only recently been successful in winning some £21million worth of investment money from the EU which will be spread throughout the borough to bring a whole range of improvements.

"Can I congratulate the winners and sincerely thank Richard Hurst who chaired our bid which was spurred on by the BEN campaign pride of Bolton and add my personal thanks to my officers who did their very best. They did a great job but it was not to be. Whether we will try again in the future is a matter for my colleagues on the council."

Preston is also famous for cotton-spinning, engineering and is a Lancashire dock town standing on the River Ribble. The famous Preston Guild festival takes place is held each year and it is home of inventor Richard Arkwright and more recently the National Museum of Football. Council chiefs highlighted historical aspects of the town in its bid.

It is much smaller than Bolton with a population of around 131,000.

City status is purely honorific and brings with it no additional powers or functions.