THE battle to create a new city in the North-East is almost certain to end in failure today.

The Home Office is expected to unveil the long-awaited result of the Millennium City competition to mark the year 2000. But as forecast by The Northern Echo months ago, Middlesbrough's bid is facing failure - barring a last-minute change of heart at the Home Office.

Home Office Minister Mike O'Brien is to announce the promotion of two English towns to city status, with the winners thought to be Wolverhampton, Brighton or possibly Swindon.

One Scottish town will also become a city, but no Welsh town has won the coveted promotion.

The Millennium City competition is decided by the Queen, on advice from the Home Office.

Earlier this year, The Northern Echo revealed that a private Home Office briefing argued against granting city status to Middlesbrough.

In an embarrassing gaffe, the briefing undermined Middlesbrough's application by noting that it was only a few years since the granting of city status to Sunderland which was also on "Teesside".

The geographical howler was condemned by Middlesbrough council officials and Mr O'Brien was forced to write to local MPs downplaying the briefing document.

But Government sources last night told The Northern Echo that, barring an 11th-hour change of mind, the Teesside town had failed to win promotion.

However, the sources also revealed that there will be another chance for city status in 2002 to mark the Queen's golden jubilee