Ballymena is being heralded as the frontrunner in the race to become Northern Ireland’s fourth city.
Four towns across the UK - one in Northern Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland - are due to have city status conferred on them as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee celebrations this year.
The other five entrants from the North include Newry, Craigavon, Carrickfergus, Lisburn and Coleraine.
Ballymena is favourite to win mainly because it is the largest urban centre besides Belfast, Derry and Armagh, all classified as cities. The town applied for city status as part of the Millennium celebrations two years ago.
According to the Lord Chancellor’s Office in London, applicant towns will be judged on "notable features, including regional or national significance, historical - including royal - features" and a "forward-looking attitude".
They must also show a "character of their own" and a "quasi-metropolitan" position in its location.
The winning towns will be announced in February.
