PROPOSALS to enter Warrington into the race to become Britain's 'Millennium City' could be decided by residents, say council officials.

One British town will be given city status to mark the new Millennium and borough leaders have expressed an interest in the plans.

The council has sent an official letter of interest to the Home Office but the final decision to put Warrington forward could be left to ordinary townsfolk.

Council chief executive Steven Broomhead said: "We have expressed an interest but we don't really know what the actual criteria for entry are yet.

"Becoming a city doesn't necessarily improve your profile or allow you access to greater resources.

"We feel that Warrington is a prosperous and growing place and that has been achieved through being a town.

"Changing status could simply confuse the town's identity that has built up over the years, one which is already strong, but we plan to wait and see what the Government want and take it from there.

"If we were to enter it is possible that residents would be consulted to gauge their opinions as well as those of the elected representatives in the town," he said.

North West neighbours Stockport have expressed a keen interest in becoming the nation's newest city in a bid to break out of Manchester's shadow.

Mr Broomhead believes that wouldn't be the case with Warrington, but becoming a city would have advantages.

"The town already has a strong identity whereas places such as Stockport and England's newest city, Sunderland have struggled to break free of bigger neighbours. We don't have that problem.

"Being the Millennium city would generate a lot of interest and publicity for the town which would be an obvious advantage though," he added.

The council will adopt a wait-and-see approach until the criteria are released in April.

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