A WORKSHOP to look at the implications of making a Worcester City of Culture bid for 2021 has been hailed a success by organisers.

Decision makers in the city say they were pleased with the appetite towards making a bid after a crunch get-together last Thursday.

More than 75 people from sports clubs, artistic and cultural organisations, councils, businesses and Worcestershire's Local Enterprise Partnership met up at Pitchcroft racecourse to test the waters on a potential bid.

The gathering included Robert Keeling, an expert from the Government's Cabinet Office, who told them how the Department of Culture, Media and Sport considers bids.

Keith Blundell, a consultant with extensive experience of having worked on previous bids including those successful in Liverpool and Hull, also told the gathering how the best ones are pulled together.

Councillor David Wilkinson, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities at Worcester City Council, said: “The debate was positive and very engaging.

"There was real enthusiasm for, and belief in, the strength of Worcester’s offering - from arts organisations, businesses and public bodies alike.

"We now need to stand back and analyse all the feedback received. ”

Peter Pawsey, executive chair of the Worcestershire's Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "As we have said before, even if we were unsuccessful, submitting such a bid would be a catalyst for things to really happen in and around Worcester - including delivery of various development projects and more events attracting an increased number of visitors, benefitting the economy and raising the profile of the city and county.

"We now need to analyse the feedback to consider the next steps."

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for localism and communities, at County Hall, said: "'It was an encouraging start and we will now have to look at the feedback and consider the way forward.

We need to ensure that whatever decision is made it is in the best interests of the city and Worcestershire as a whole."

The city council's old Labour administration first suggested it more than one year ago, and back in October Culture Secretary Sajid Javid urged the current Tory leadership to go for it.

As we reported at the time, it came as a surprise to senior Tories in the city.

A bid would need to be made in 2017 in order to compete for the 2021 crown.

The award is dished out every four years and the last winner is Hull, which is City of Culture for 2017.

Hull is estimated to benefit from at least £60 million of new economic activity in 2017, and millions more from tourism in the years running up to it.

The talks last Thursday also came after we revealed how Councillor Simon Geraghty, city council leader, made a plea to other bodies in Worcester to show him the money over funding a bid.