A SOMERSET city is among the candidates to become the 2021 UK City of Culture.

Wells - the smallest city in England - has been announced on the list of contenders by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The city is emphasising its rich and vibrant cultural heritage and unique historical and natural setting as it starts the process of putting together its bid for the quadrennial competition.

The bid will deliver a programme centred on the City of Wells in Somerset but will comprise partnerships across the city, with neighbouring towns and across the surrounding rural area.

Local institutions and events, businesses and local councils and festivals, artists and carnivals will all be working together to develop an exciting programme for the bid.

John Turner, chief executive of Visit Somerset, said “We are very excited to be working with the Medieval city of Wells in bidding for the City of Culture 2021.

"Wells is an incredible example of the UK’s finest history and heritage, with the finest example of 12th Century Gothic architecture resplendent upon its cathedral and the oldest residential street in Europe still with its original building work at Vicars’ Close dating back to the 14th Century.

"Surrounding the city is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and famous towns such as Glastonbury, where the foundations of European Christianity began, with its world-famous music festival.

"If that’s not enough, one of the finest gorges in Europe is close by at Cheddar and a spectacular cave network at Wookey Hole caves.

"Wells quite literally has it all and more.”