More than 500 photographs have been submitted in just two weeks backing the borough’s bid for city status.

The Mayor of Dudley said she was “overwhelmed” with the response after Dudley Council bosses called on residents to send in pictures of their favourite places in the borough.

Councillor Anne Millward sifted through the entries and picked out 10 for special commendation. A handful of those will be displayed proudly in the official submission bid document, due to go to Government chiefs next week.

The commended entries include pictures of the fountain in Dudley Marketplace, Delph Locks, Bottom Church in Dudley, Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge, Saltwells Nature Reserve, and St John’s Church in Halesowen. 

Among the residents commended for their pictures were Sally Shillingford, Graham Furnival, Jane Fraser, Joanna Noble, Johanna Smart and Alec Longhurst. Councillor Anne Millward, the Mayor of Dudley, said:

"I was absolutely overwhelmed to see we had received so many submissions, and I’d like to thank everyone who took the trouble to enter. It clearly shows a great deal of pride in the borough we live in, and that will hopefully come across to the judges determining our bid for city status.

"The great majority of the entries were of a very high quality so it was very difficult whittling them down, but I’m really pleased we’ve been able to include a handful of them in the bid submission."

Dudley Council confirmed on Black Country Day in July that it intended to pursue a bid for city status as part of a competition to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations next year. A bid will be submitted officially this week and Dudley will be vying with the likes of Reading, Guildford and Milton Keynes for city designation.

A webpage has been launched giving detailed information about the bid, including frequently asked questions about the reasoning behind putting the borough forward. It also includes an email address for people to make contact with their favourite things about the borough.

The deadline for submission of bids is December 8, with the winners announced next year.