Bradford and Wakefield face record competition to become the UK City of Culture

Bradford and Wakefield will face record competition to become the UK City of Culture - after 20 places from all four corners of the country have submitted bids.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said a record number of places have expressed an interest in hosting a year of cultural festivities in 2025.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

"This record number of applications from all four corners of the country is testament to the huge success of City of Culture in generating investment, creating jobs and boosting local pride.

"This prestigious prize creates a fantastic opportunity for towns and cities to build back better from the pandemic and I wish all bidders the very best of luck."

The 20 bidders will be reduced to an initial longlist in the coming weeks and then cut down further to a final shortlist in early 2022. The winner will be announced in May 2022.

Those which are longlisted will be awarded grants of £40,000 for the first time to support the next stage of their applications.

Entrants have been tasked by the Government with proving that they can put culture at the heart of their plans to recover from the impact of the pandemic.

The successful area will take on the baton from Coventry, which is the 2021 UK City of Culture, with Hull and Derry-Londonderry having previously enjoyed the status in 2017 and 2013 respectively.

DCMS said Coventry is currently providing a "blueprint for how culture can be at the heart of social and economic recovery" as the country battles out of the coronavirus pandemic.

Coventry has received more than £15.5 million from the Government to directly support its year of programmes, DCMS said.

During its 12-month tenure, Hull saw more than 5.3 million visits to more than 2,800 events, cultural activities, installations and exhibitions, while 75% of those who visited the Humber port city in 2017 stated that it changed their perception of the city for the better.

Nine out of 10 people in Hull thought that UK City of Culture had a positive impact on the city and 90% of residents took part in at least one cultural activity, according to department data.