City must beat nearly 30 rivals in Bid

A total of 29 bidders are in the running for the title UK City of Culture 2013. The rival cities and areas are: Aberdeen, Barnsley, Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Carlisle, Chester, Chichester, Chorley, Cornwall, Derby, Derry, Gloucester and Cheltenham, Hull, Ipswich and Haven Gateway Leicester, Manchester, Norwich, Oxford, Pennine Lancashire, Reading, Sheffield, "The Countryside" Urban South Hampshire and Wakefield. One bidder has asked not to be named. The bid from The Countryside is on behalf of all UK rural areas.

The names of the contenders were announced at a seminar in Liverpool attended by the Durham Bid team. The team were able to see first hand the positive effect a cultural led regeneration has had for Liverpool and Merseyside. They picked up some great tips and ideas from the European Capital of Culture and are now even more convinced that Durham can win the title.