Boroughs to ask Queen for city status

One boasts the Tower of London, Brick Lane and Canary Wharf. The other is home to the capital's only tram service and more Londoners than any other borough.

Now Tower Hamlets and Croydon are looking to take a step up in the world by bidding to become cities as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

They want to join the City of Westminster and the City of London and will compete against towns including Middlesbrough, Blackpool and Reading for royal approval.

The winner will be announced early next year.

Croydon has made several unsuccessful attempts before.

Tower Hamlets, now under the control of directly-elected mayor Lutfur Rahman, hopes success will foster greater civic pride and attract more businesses to east London.