BLACKPOOL is to bid for city status for the second time in two years.

Members of Blackpool Borough Council's executive committee agreed yesterday (Wednesday) to put Blackpool forward for another city-making contest -- despite the town's failure in 1999 to become a Millennium city.

The titles went instead to Inverness, Wolverhampton, and Brighton and Hove.

But in July the Lord Chancellor's department in London announced plans to give more towns city status to mark the Queen's forthcoming Golden Jubilee.

Only four towns will be chosen -- one each from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. And the full list of competitors will only be confirmed after the deadline for applications on October 12.

To be in the running, towns should have "notable features" with a regional or national significance, historical connections, and also a forward looking attitude.

At yesterday's meeting, Councillor Roy Lewis, executive member for tourism, told colleagues: "I welcome this opportunity to bid again. It's important that we do this."

And before the meeting, Blackpool Council chief executive Graham Essex-Crosby told councillors the contest was "an opportunity to promote Blackpool and its regeneration on the national stage."

He added: "City status could be a source of much civic pride."

The committee decided to support another city bid, and Mr Essex-Crosby will now put together a formal application.

The move was welcomed by Josie Hammond, spokesman for the Blackpool Hotel and Guest House Association. She said: "We are such a huge, important resort in England I think there is belief that we should be known as a city. It may give us an opportunity to put in for other sorts of funding and it puts us on the map.

"Most of the community in Blackpool probably won't notice any difference, but as far as the hotels, guest houses and businesses are concerned, anything that increases Blackpool's profile has to be good."

No-one from Blackpool Challenge Partnership was available for comment, although it is understood the organisation, which backed last year's bid, would be likely to do so again. Successful bids will be announced early next year.