Dunfermline could be competing for city status against St Andrews after the university town noted its interest in also placing a bid.

Work has been underway on the Auld Grey Toun's application since June but now St Andrew's Community Council is considering whether the home of golf should also enter the competition with the backing of council representatives now in place.

City status will be granted to a select few UK towns by the Queen next year as part of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and Dunfermline is hoping it can clinch the royal seal of approval to become Scotland’s eighth city.

Councillor Helen Law, convener of the City of Dunfermline area committee, said: "Councillors and officers have been working really hard on the Dunfermline bid since this competition was announced.

"I'm aware that St Andrews are now also interested in a bid and both will be presented before the council's policy and co-ordination committee to see how we go forward.

"I would hope that Dunfermline gets city status but everyone is welcome to go for a bid."

The competition has been launched to mark the 70th anniversary of the monarch’s ascent to the throne.

Back in 2012, as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, four awards were made to Chelmsford, Perth, St Asaph and Armagh – one for each part of the UK – but this time the number of awards will depend on the strength of the bids.

Dunfermline missed out nearly a decade ago but local officials have been raring to go again with a fresh bid.

Willie Rennie has affinities with both Fife towns, as a previous MP for Dunfermline and West Fife while currently serving as the MSP for North East Fife.

He told the Press: "I have been a strong supporter for city status ever since I was an MP for Dunfermline.

"Councillor James Simpson and myself went to Westminster in 2007 to state our case to Charles Falconer, the Lord Chancellor, as it had been previously known as a city and many believe it never lost that.

"It was felt that they should be rewriting a historic wrong.

"The fact that Fife does not have a city needs to be recognised, especially when we are a kingdom.

"I will be giving my support to both Dunfermline and St Andrews – I can't pick I'm afraid! They are both fine towns that are majorly important for Scotland."

Cllr Law added: "We have had city status in the past but we need it for our future.

"So I'm certainly backing Dunfermline – we have put an enormous amount of work in, but I wish all other towns and St Andrews the best of luck.

"Ten years ago we were disappointed so we've been working on it since June, but we've really been continuing with the process since a decade ago so we were ready when it came around again."

Head of communities and neighbourhood services, Paul Vaughan, confirmed the council would be submitting an application to the Platinum Jubilee City Status competition.

He added: "There is interest from both Dunfermline and St Andrews in this bid and a report on how we move forward will be discussed at a future meeting of the policy and co-ordination committee."

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