Town 's bid for Millennium status

St Asaph's cathedral gives it nominal city status

The cathedral city of St Asaph is promoting its case in the race to become the first new civic city of the Millennium.

It is one of six Welsh towns bidding for city status and claims to have more than 4,000 backers.

Because St Asaph has a cathedral, it can in theory call itself a city.

But it would like the title to be official and is hoping to be chosen as the Millennium city.

A petition with 4,000 signatures backing its bid - said to be from all over the world - will be presented to the local MP Chris Ruane and Assembly Member Ann Jones in the grounds of the cathedral.

It faces tough competition, not just from Aberystwyth, Newtown, Wrexham, Newport and Machynlleth, the other Welsh towns in the race, but from perceived favourites Brighton and Wolverhampton.