Culture minister Margaret Hodge has revealed that 14 candidates have submitted bids as part of a Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)-led competition to be the first City of Culture in 2013.

The DCMS invited cities, towns and urban areas across the UK to put themselves forward as part of the scheme, which aims to build on the success of Liverpool's status as European Capital of Culture during 2008. The 14 bidders are: Barnsley, South Yorkshire; Birmingham; Carlisle; Chichester, West Sussex; Cornwall; Durham; Hull; Ipswich and the Haven Gateway and Portsmouth and Southampton, as well as Sheffield and Southend, Essex.

In addition to the English applicants, Swansea in Wales, and Derry in Northern Ireland are also among the applicants, which will be reduced to a shortlist of five areas by a DCMS advisory panel in spring 2010. Hodge said: "Becoming City of Culture will help bring people together, both locally and from all over the country, to share experiences of something challenging, enlightening - and sometimes just good fun.

"These 14 bidding areas now have a wonderful opportunity to bring culture into the heart - and to the forefront - of their communities and the country as a whole, pulling in investment and boosting tourism." Members of the panel include chair Phil Redmond, creative director of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture; Lambeth Council chief executive Derrick Anderson; ex-BBC Northern Ireland controller Anna Carragher and Professor John Ashton, director of public health and county medical officer for Cumbria Primary Care Trust.

Broadcaster Lauren Laverne; former Welsh Assembly Government director of culture, Welsh language and sport, Margaret Evans; entrepreneur Rotha Johnston and director of culture and cultural and national heritage at the Council of Europe, Robert Palmer. Image: Durham is one of the 14 applicants