9:31am Friday 20th January 2012
By Craig Jones
Bradford on Avon has triumphed in the contest to become the 5 Live City of 2012 this morning.
All week residents and visitors to the town have been voting to make the town an unofficial city for a day and have Tony Livesey present his BBC radio show from the town.
It was announced just before 9am on the 5 Live Breakfast Show that the town beat off competition from the other two shortlisted towns, Whitby and Bungay.
The man who nominated Bradford on Avon for the competition, resident Jonathan Hewat, was told the news live on-air after mayor Peter Leach had put one last public appeal out for votes on 5 Live earlier this morning.
Mr Hewat, of Wine Street, said: "This news is absolutely fantastic, I imagine this accolade will help put Bradford on Avon on the map in a big way, as many, many people listen to 5 Live and they’re sure to take an interest in the town."
Since it was announced on Tuesday that Bradford on Avon was shortlisted, the town council has been campaigning hard to get people to vote by text for it to win, while the tourist information centre has been handing out leaflets asking people to support the town in the contest.
Mr Hewat, resident of the town for 40 years, said: "I nominated Bradford on Avon for the competition as I think it is a very impressive place and offers a lot. I hope this coverage will be of great benefit to the residents and the businesses of the town."
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