Fifteen towns have been shortlisted to become the first U.K. town of culture after The Department for Culture, Media and Sport received 398 bids.
The shortlisted towns will each receive £60,000 to develop their full bids and the winner will be announced early next year.
Greater Manchester has no representation in the shortlist with only Birkenhead from the North West represented
The full list is as follows
Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward
Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot
Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham
