SOUTHEND is not a favourite with the bookies, but the campaign for the borough to made a city continues to galvanise people into action.

The Echo, MPs, business and education leaders and bosses at neighbouring councils have backed the bid for the town to be awarded city status to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The bid, if successful, would recognise the town’s place as the regional centre for education, shopping and tourism.

The expansion at Southend Airport has also been a huge factor, sealing Southend’s reputation as an important town locally and across the region.

The advancements made over the past ten years, including the City Beach scheme, the new college, university and diving centre at Garon Park are also key selling points of Southend’s bid.

With a decision almost upon us, Southend is still a definite front-runner, according to mayor David Norman, even though bookies believe fellow Essex town Colchester has more of a chance.

Mr Norman said everyone he has met over the past year has firmly backed the bid.

MPs and council leaders in neighbouring Rochford, Castle Point and Basildon are also firmly behind the campaign.

Mr Norman said: “People really are very enthusiastic about the idea.

“People do recognise the strength of the competition, as we are up against two very impressive Essex towns in Chelmsford and Colchester, but also outside of Essex we are going against another seaside town in Bournemouth.

“But everyone I have spoken to about it talks with great civic pride about Southend and hopes are high.”

Mr Norman said many people put a lot of time and effort into backing Southend’s bid.

Over the past 12 months, publicity campaigns have included Southend United playing a pre-season friendly in July in a special city status kit, rail firm c2c re-naming one of the trains on its Fenchurch Street line to Southend City on Sea and bus firm Arriva branding one of its buses with a city status theme.

The Echo has also endorsed the bid and launched our Pride in Southend campaign on the back of the bid, encouraging people to celebrate all that is good about the town.

Mr Norman said: “I suppose other towns have been campaigning and doing everything possible to shout about what is good about their town, but you cannot fault us. The people of Southend have pulled out all the stops to put in a first-class bid and to draw attention to what is great about the borough.

“I have extolled the virtues of the borough, its vitality, culture, wonderful scenery and its seafront.

“Essex is the second most populated county in the country, behind Yorkshire, and Essex really does deserve to have a city – and Southend is the premier town in Essex.”

Derek Jarvis, Southend Tory councillor responsible for culture and tourism, said: “We are a hugely popular seafront town with six million visitors each year.

“We have an iconic structure with the pier, an airport which brings people here and there have been a host of improvements around the borough over the past decade.

“When I go to things like the annual Southend Arts Council evening, which fills the foyer of the Cliffs Pavilion with a host of talented people from the borough, all showing what they do, it is times like that when I really feel we are ready for it.

“We have applied before, but now I think we stand a great chance.

“Some people have written us off but sometimes decisions that emerge can be surprising and I am confident.”