YP Comment: Leeds 2023 needs our support

The impact that winning the accolade would have on the city cannot be underestimated. Liverpool, the last British city to hold the title in 2008, enjoyed a £750m boost to the local economy and perhaps more importantly, increased the number of residents who said they were proud to live there by 82 per cent.

After years of preparatory work by city leaders, now ordinary people need to come together to show their support. Those representing what is the only bid from northern England have promised to ensure the benefits are shared with the rest of Yorkshire.

There are myriad ways to get involved with everything from putting forward ideas to offering sponsorship.

The competition will be fierce. But Leeds must grasp this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.