AN ADVERTISING campaign on London’s tube promoting Birmingham’s bid to become UK City of Culture may have backfired with the competition’s judges, it has emerged.

One member of the panel appointed to recommend the culture crown winner to the Government took exception to posters paid for by the city council and displayed on the London Underground, which she complained “trumpeted” Birmingham’s bid.

Anna Carragher made her views clear in an email to panel chairman Phil Redmond a week after the judges heard presentations from short-listed cities including Birmingham and eventual winners Derry/Londonderry.

Ms Carragher, a former controller of BBC Northern Ireland, wrote to Mr Redmond: “Interesting. The Derry/Londonderry website is upbeat about the presentation but not too boastful.