Other places bidding for the 2017 title are East Kent - covering Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Thanet - Hastings and Bexhill on Sea, Portsmouth and Southampton and Southend on Sea.

BBC: The Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea

East Kent, which covers Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Thanet, is among 11 contenders bidding to become the next UK City of Culture.

BBC: Orlando Bloom backs East Kent City of Culture bid

Bloom, 36, who also starred in Pirates Of The Caribbean, was born and raised in Canterbury, the cathedral city which forms part of the East Kent bid.

BBC: Orlando Bloom backs East Kent City of Culture bid