No luck in culture bids for local towns

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has said the "pride and vision for the future will carry on regardless" as Longton fails to make the shortlist for UK Town of Culture.

Only 15 towns out of almost 400 applications have been shortlisted to be named the first UK Town of Culture, none of which are in our area.

Fifteen towns will now compete for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 title. The shortlisted towns are: 

• 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