ORGANISATIONS across Worcester have been urged to put their money on the table for an ambitious City of Culture bid - after the council admitted it was not prepared to go it alone.

Three weeks ahead of a key seminar into whether Worcester should make a bid for the 2021 crown, the council says it wants different bodies to be "prepared to put something on the table".

During a cabinet meeting last night:

- Councillor Simon Geraghty, the leader, said there would be "no blank cheque" from the council to get the bid together

- Managing director Duncan Sharkey revealed the seminar, which is taking place on Thursday, February 12 at Worcester Racecourse with any interested parties in the city, is about seeing what each one can afford to stump up

- Labour group leader Councillor Adrian Gregson urged the Tories to "show some backbone over it" and give it stronger political backing

- The Tories promised a strong political presence on the day, despite the fact four of the six cabinet members are due at County Hall for a crucial Worcestershire County Council budget setting meeting

Addressing the cabinet, Cllr Gregson said: "I do think while you're anxious not to put any political spin on it, it will be absolutely incumbent on as many partners as possible to say 'we'll support and back this'.

"For Duncan (Sharkey) to say that on the day, he needs to see some leadership, some political direction and backbone - if the city council doesn't do that it will fail at the first hurdle."

Cllr Geraghty said: "If there wasn't any support from us for a City of Culture bid we wouldn't be having this seminar.

"I don't think there's any lack of commitment from us to looking at this very seriously indeed."

He said could offer "no blank cheque" but told the rest of the cabinet he was intent on brokering a partnership.

He also said there would be an "empowered cabinet presence" attending despite Tories Lucy Hodgson, deputy leader Marc Bayliss, Andy Roberts and Cllr Geraghty himself required at County Hall that day.

Mr Sharkey said: "What we need to get on the day, is an understanding from all the partners as to what they're prepared to put on the table and what they are not.

"This isn't a 'no cost' issue, that's the critical thing for the day."

A bid would need to be made in 2017 in order to compete for the 2021 crown.

During the workshop any organisations which help Worcester's heritage, sport, culture and arts are invited to attend to discuss the costs with Government mandarins.

Experts from the Government's Department of Culture, Media and Sport will be present to give advice.

It will take place from 9am to 1pm on the day and any organisations wishing to attend should email culture@worcester.gov.uk before Thursday, January 29.

The award is dished out every four years and the last winner is Hull, which is City of Culture for 2017.

Hull is estimated to benefit from at least £60 million of new economic activity in 2017, and millions more from tourism in the years running up to it.