Could Rotherham be UK's first Town of Culture?

People in Rotherham have reacted to the news that it has been shortlisted to become the UK's first designated Town of Culture.

Whittled down from 400 applicants, the South Yorkshire town has made it to the final 15, alongside Birkenhead, Grimsby, Pontypridd and the Isle of Bute. They will now receive £60,000 to further develop their bids.

If chosen, Rotherham will receive £3m to fund cultural events in 2028. Last year, the town became the world's first Children's Capital of Culture.

Grace Bower, who led that project, said she was "not surprised" Rotherham had been shortlisted, adding that heritage is what got the town to this position, but it was culture that "drives" a place forward.

Bower said: "Rotherham was the world's first Children's Capital of Culture, how iconic to be the world's first Town of Culture?

"It's the only Yorkshire town on there, so hopefully the county will get behind us, claim the title and bring it back home for everyone to enjoy".

Sarah Champion, Labour MP for Rotherham, said she was "thrilled" to hear the news.

"Rotherham has always been a hub for creativity, history and the arts, and I am so pleased to see this has been recognised by the government."

Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy said the town wore its Yorkshire identity with "real pride".

"Like so many of our great industrial towns, its strength comes from that deep sense of community and from the creativity of the people who call it home."

Rotherham Council's leader, Chris Read, said the shortlist was recognition of the hard work done by the region's cultural partnership.

"It's time for Rotherham to feel confident about its future."

Twelve years on from the Jay Report, which showed about 1,400 children had been sexually exploited in the town, Read said its culture bid could be a turning point.

"We have been healing ever since that landmark report, which brought us to face the terrible realities of what happened here.

"This is a great opportunity to punctuate that story and showcase what we can do in the future. There is more to Rotherham than that," he said.

Rotherham Council said its bid focused on the real-life stories of its people.

A statement read: "We come from the England people don't put on postcards. We became the town people told stories about.

"The next chapter is where we stop asking whether Rotherham deserves a better future and start writing it."

The body said they had been buoyed by its cultural offerings, including creating partnerships between organisations in the field.

Literacy charity Grimm & Co is set to become the national centre for folk and fairy tales, while Flux Rotherham has worked to increase community engagement in the arts and culture.

The new Town of Culture competition builds on the success of the UK's more developed City of Culture competition - which has in the past awarded funding for places such as Bradford, Hull, Liverpool and Derry-Londonderry.

With the shortlist complete, three winners - best small, medium and large towns - will be chosen by an independent judging panel early next year.

The overall winner will receive £3m and hold the title of the UK's inaugural Town of Culture, while two runners up will receive £250,000 to carry out elements of their planned cultural programme.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North