Croydon has once again missed out on its bid to become a city.

The Government today announced Chelmsford, Perth, and St Asaph are to become cities as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Amagh has also been granted a Lord Mayoralty.

The awards have been made by The Queen on advice from the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord President of the Privy Council, Nick Clegg.

The award of city status or a Lord Mayoralty is an honour bestowed by The Queen only on rare occasions such as jubilees.

It is not the first time Croydon has missed out on the honour, having applied in 1954, 2000 and 2002.

Croydon council chief executive Jon Rouse said: “We’d like to congratulate the people of Perth, Chelmsford and St Asaph.

"This must, as ever, have been a very hard decision for Her Majesty to make.

"We know she had to choose between several towns with extremely strong cases.

"However we still hold our own heads high in Croydon.

"We continue to believe that we are a unique and special place with huge potential for economic growth.

"Regardless of our status we are determined to prove that we deserve to be recognised as the premier business and retail centre for South London and the South East.”

The Deputy Prime Minister said: “Congratulations to Amagh , Chelmsford, Perth and St Asaph who have been granted these rare honours from a field of exceptional entrants.

“Across the United Kingdom, I have been moved by the pride and passion which people have shown in putting their nominations forward.

“The standard of application was very high, and those who missed out should not be downhearted.

“I hope the competition has given the residents of all of the places which applied a sense of civic pride, of collective ownership and of community spirit.”

The Queen formally confers the titles of city status and Lord Mayoralty by Letters Patent in due course.

The awards of city status and Lord Mayoralty or Provostship are purely honorific and confer no additional powers, functions or funding.

The last civic honours competition was held in 2002 to mark the Golden Jubilee when Preston, Stirling, Newport, Lisburn and Newry were awarded city status and Exeter was awarded a Lord Mayoralty.