Two more North East bids for Town of Culture 2028
Gateshead CouncilTwo more areas are bidding to be Town of Culture 2028 after a change in the criteria by the government allowed larger towns to apply.
Gateshead and Blyth said they would enter the contest which runs alongside UK City of Culture, with the winner awarded a £3m prize and two runners-up receiving £250,000 each.
Gateshead Council said 2028 was already a "landmark moment" for the town as it marked the 30th anniversary of the Angel of the North and the centenary of the Tyne Bridge, currently undergoing major restoration.
Blyth Town Council said it would to share its story of energy - industrial, renewable and creative - with the rest of the country.
Gateshead councillor Angela Douglas said: "It's a chance to shine a national spotlight on the people who make Gateshead such a special place."
The cabinet member for culture, sport and tourism called the application an "audacious move" but said it matched "our spirit, ambition and pride".
"Our culture is shaped by our communities, our grassroots groups and our independent creatives, and together we're building a cultural movement that reaches every neighbourhood," she said.
Blyth said it was preparing to bid for the title as the town was already "firmly in the national spotlight during the Festival of Energy".
It said the bid would tell the story of a town once forged by shipbuilding, coal mining and the sea, and now helping to power the UK's renewable energy future.
Mayor of Blyth David Swinhoe said: "Blyth is a town with an incredible history and an exciting future."
PA MediaThe areas will join North East neighbours North Shields, Bishop Auckland, and Berwick-upon-Tweed in the national race.
Three finalists - one small, one medium, one large town - will be chosen and towns have until 31 March to enter expressions of interest.
The strongest bids will progress to a shortlist, announced in the spring, with each shortlisted town receiving £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition.
The government said the winner would be announced early next year.