Catch the city status buzz!

Bus company Arriva has painted one of the vehicles in its fleet with an eye-catching array of features showing just how much Southend deserves to be designated a City.

This means the borough's bid to become a city as part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in 2012 is more than just the word on the street.

It is now being emblazoned throughout Southend as a permanent reminder of the town's aspirations.

Arriva - one of the partners for the bid - decorated the bus with designs created by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to demonstrate Southend's greatest facets.

These highlight all the great elements that any thriving city would be proud of here in Southend-on-Sea, including images of the seafront, University, Kursaal and Palace Hotel.

The venture comes after railway company c2c named one of its trains "Southend - City on Sea" earlier this year.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Deputy Leader, Councillor John Lamb, said: "Our thanks go to Arriva buses for supporting our bid.

"This bus makes a not-to-be-missed statement about the huge amount we can offer residents and visitors.

"It will turn heads and remind everyone of the area's wonderful attributes, illustrating how the town is an extremely worthy contender in the competition to become a city.

"Southend is the largest urban area in Essex, with a University Campus, great shopping centres, a thriving and broad-based economy and a fine cultural offering.

"The bid to become a city is made up of a partnership including many businesses and organisations from around the borough.

"As excellent transport is one of our key messages, it's very fitting that both road and rail will continually keep taking this forward and driving it home!"

Arriva's Regional Publicity Manager, Richard Lewis, said: "We are delighted to make one of our buses available to promote the bid for city status and we hope that Southend can be added to the list of cities which are served by Arriva across the UK."

Stephen Hetherington, the chairman of HQ Theatres who also chairs Southend's City Status Board, said: "Southend is already a city in all but name and Arriva contributes to both its status and its success.

"It is culturally rich and economically strong - the natural first city of the region."

The town which has been successful in its bid for city status will be decided by the Queen and announced next spring as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.