DURHAM must show ambition if it is to be named the first British Capital of Culture, the Government minister behind the scheme has said.

Fears have been raised that Durham will be overlooked in favour of a larger city.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham told The Northern Echo: “I am very open-minded about how this may be awarded.

It is all in the ambition that any area might show.”

Durham County Council was one of the first to bid after Mr Burnham announced the creation of the Capital of Culture prize. Oxford, Birmingham and Leeds have since emerged as rivals.

The title could boost the winning city’s economy by hundreds of millions of pounds and result in a series of events being held in the city, such as BBC Sports Personality of the Year, the Turner Prize, the Brit Awards and the Baftas. Speaking during a visit to Derwentside College, in Consett, County Durham, Mr Burnham said the first title would likely be awarded for 2013, and that the winner for 2017 could be announced simultaneously.

He said he expected to receive a report on the project soon and publish details of the bidding process next month.

He challenged bidding cities to show their ambition and demonstrate how winning the title would make a difference to people’s lives.

He said: “Given the opportunity, what would they do with it? What would they do to bring culture into the lives of more people and lift regeneration in their city or town?

“This scheme is about what they would make of it.”

Mr Burnham also backed the idea of regionwide bids, and suggested that announcing the 2017 winner early could benefit a small city.

He said: “If a small city needs a bit longer to prepare, that might help them.

“The bidding city would have to demonstrate it could safely host all these cultural events. But it could be done in partnership, or as part of a regionwide bid. If anything, we want people to be more flexible.

We want to include rather than exclude.”