Liverpool City Council (LCC) has revealed that it is leading the city's bid to be selected as England's first UNESCO City of Music, following its success as the 2008 European Capital of Culture.

The council is working alongside the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and a range of other key music organisations in the city as part of the bid, which will see a steering group meet for the first time at the end of November.

Liverpool's Lord Mayor will officially launch the bid by writing to UNESCO, which has already designated the city as a World Heritage City and would see it become just one of four cities of music across the world.

LCC leader Warren Bradley, who will chair the bid steering group, said: "Music is in Liverpool's blood and its influence has been truly global from the days of sea shanties and Merseybeat to classical and dance - it was a fundamental reason why we were European Capital of Culture.

"To be a UNESCO city of music would be a massive boost to the city's international cultural profile and give the city a focus, like in '08, to develop our music offer at all levels for the benefit of musicians and music lovers alike."