THE people of a North-East city may be about to have a ceremonial Lord Mayor after rejecting the option of a directly-elected mayor just weeks ago.

Sunderland, whose electors decided against an elected mayor, is one of 15 cities applying for a Lord Mayoralty.

The honour will be granted by the Queen to mark her Golden Jubilee next year.

Sunderland was granted city status nearly ten years ago and is hoping to have equal status with rival North-East city Newcastle, which already has a Lord Mayor.

The Lord Chancellor will be responsible for advising the Queen in the coming months, and the outcome will be announced early next year. More than one of the 15 cities may be granted a Lord Mayor.

Factors to be taken into account in assessing the bids include whether the city has a character of its own.

Only 16 Lord Mayoralities were granted in the past century. The office carries no additional powers or practical advantages.

Applications from the cities of Bath, Cambridge, Carlisle, Chichester, Derby, Exeter, Gloucester, Lincoln, St Albans, St David's, Salford, Southampton, Wolverhampton and Worcester, as well as Sunderland, were received by the Lord Chancellor earlier this month.