BOURNEMOUTH’S bid to receive Diamond Jubilee city status this year has received a welcome boost from the British people.

With its long stretch of golden sand and bustling town centre, the resort has topped a poll as one of the towns most deserving of city status.

As part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s 60 years on the throne, a competition was launched to award one town the accolade and Bourne-mouth, together with a further 25 towns, put themselves forward for the right to become a city.

A poll run by YouGov found that the top spot for the most deserving city was shared between Bourne-mouth and Reading with both towns receiving 12 per cent of the vote. Dorchester received the support of six per cent of those questioned.

London’s Tower Hamlets received 28 per cent of the votes for the least deserving of the 26 candidate towns.

The survey was carried out online on Feb-ruary 2 and 3 and questioned 1,659.

Other towns vying for city status are: Bolton, Chelm-sford, Colchester, Coleraine, Corby, Craigavon, Croy-don, Doncaster, Dudley, Dumfries, Gateshead, Goole, Luton, Medway, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Perth, Reading, Southend, St Asaph, St Austell, Stockport, Tower Hamlets and Wrexham.

The city status is a permanent status and the final decision rests with the Queen. The decision will be announced in the first half of this year.

The Government said it is looking to recognise “vibrant, welcoming communities with interesting histories and distinct identities”.

Towns which have won city status previously have attracted investment from large organisations and the creation of many jobs.

Bournemouth Mayor, Cllr Chris Rochester, pictured, said: “It would be nice for the people of Bourne-mouth and a great boost for the town.

“Having lived in Bournemouth all my life it would be good to see it officially awarded city status in recognition of all of Bournemouth’s achievements.”

Pam Donn-ellan, the chief executive of Bourne-mouth Borough Council, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to hear that Bournemouth is the town that people would most like to see awarded city status.

“We believe that Bournemouth has a lot to offer both visitors and residents and we have achieved a fantastic reputation for being a great place to visit, to work and to live, with a rich history and bold aspirations for the future. “To be awarded city status would be testimony to all that has been achieved for Bournemouth over the years and it would be extra special particularly in the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.”