The leader of Warwick District Council has welcomed a 'wonderful' opportunity that could see a South Warwickshire town become a city.

To celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 a Civic Honours competition has been launched across the UK giving towns the opportunity to apply for 'city status'.

This is the first such opportunity for 10 years.

Local authorities have until 8 December 2021 to submit entries, stating why their local town should be granted city status. Existing cities can enter a separate competition for a 'Lord Mayoralty'.

Chelmsford, Perth, St Asaph and Armagh were given awards to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Speaking on BBC CWR yesterday, council leader Cllr Andrew Day said: "We have to ask our residents what they want, what they think is appropriate, and whether they think this is worth going for.

"We may find the residents of Leamington, they are already Royal Leamington Spa, so its whether they want to become a city. Similarly Warwick has already got its own history and maybe it doesn't feel the need to become a city."

All entries will be considered before final recommendations are made to the Queen in 2022.

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Cllr Day added: "What it is showing is that South Warwickshire is growing, its got aspirations, it has got a lot of civic pride, it is a great place to live and work, and this is another way of acknowledging that.

"This is a real moment in our nation's history, to have a monarch to serve for 70 years, and to celebrate this jubilee with one of our towns to become a city would be wonderful."