SUPPORTERS of Dudley’s bid to become a city have one month left to make their voices heard.

A petition, which has already been signed by hundreds of people, is due to close on February 10.

MP Ian Austin (Lab Dudley North) has urged people across the West Midlands to back the bid, saying it would raise the borough’s profile and help bring much-needed investment to the area.

He said: “The petition says that we have to be ambitious about Dudley’s future and proud of its past and I couldn’t agree more.”

The Black Country borough is one of 26 towns and boroughs applying for city status in a competition to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Just one will be named a city by the Queen. She will make the decision based on advice from Government ministers in the Cabinet Office, led by Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister.

Dudley is the only West Midlands borough in the running. Rival bidders include Bolton, Luton, Milton Keynes, Reading and the London borough of Tower Hamlets.

The petition has been organised by Dudley Chamber of Commerce and can be signed by visiting www.dudley.gov.uk, the website of Dudley Council.

Mr Austin said: “Dating right back to the Doomsday Book, through the civil war, with our castle, Priory and historic town centre, we boast a heritage other cities could only dream of. Our town lit the spark that fired the Industrial Revolution and changed not just Dudley and the Black Country, but Britain and the whole of the world

“That history needs to be an inspiration as we attract new industries and new jobs for the future. We need higher skills, first class schools and health services. We need more leisure facilities to keep people fit and healthy and give young people something to do. The city status bid can be the catalyst for these changes.”

Wolverhampton won a similar competition to become a city in 2000.