COLCHESTER could be in the fight to become the nation’s next city after the Queen launched a competition ahead of her jubilee celebrations.

Local authorities are being invited to apply for city status for the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s ascension to the throne in 2013.

Colchester Council has announced it is looking into applying while Destination Colchester, a group set up to promote the town, has started surveying residents to see whether Britain’s oldest recorded town should apply to become its newest city.

Simon Taylor, from Destination Colchester, said: “We’re keeping an open mind.

“It’s something that needs to be discussed with the community, and they have to have a say.”

Colchester MP Bob Russell said Colchester should apply, even if the bid is not ultimately successful.

He said: “It is like going in for the FA Cup – you take part to promote the club and the town, and make a national name.

“We have a strong case because of our historic past and our exciting future. Being a ‘city’ will not alter growth, but it will greatly improve our status.”

The borough applied to become a Millennium City in 2000 and again in 2002, but was rejected in favour of the likes of Wolverhampton and Brighton. Since then, Colchester’s population has grown rapidly and was last year labelled the fastest-growing borough in the country.

Hstorians dispute whether Colchester should already be a city, with some claiming Emperor Claudius officially labelled Camulodunum a city.

Just a year ago, Colchester Council debated whether to apply if the opportunity arose, but a majority voted the borough, which would include other towns and villages including Wivenhoe, Tiptree and Dedham, should retain the status quo.

A Colchester Council spokesman said: “There will be a Jubilee City Status application process, and we will be looking at that application to see if it is appropriate for Colchester.”