Bristol delegation aims to impress European Green Capital judges

Mayor George Ferguson is among the seven-strong party

A delegation from Bristol has left for Brussels to try to convince judges the city should be European Green Capital for 2015.

Last year Bristol was the runner-up, finishing second to Copenhagen.

The title rewards cities which consistently achieve high environmental standards and are committed to further improvement and sustainability.

Brussels, Glasgow and Ljubliana, the capital of Slovenia, are also in the running for the title.

The Green Capital contest is judged in two stages, the first of which is a technical assessment that looks at 12 subject areas including energy, water use, waste, transport and green spaces.

'Growing city'

Among the seven-strong delegation is elected mayor George Ferguson and Professor Martin Bigg, chairman of Bristol Green Capital Partnership.

Mr Ferguson said it was important to go for green growth.

"We have to grow and we are a growing city and we need to provide the jobs," he said.

"I see this whole business of becoming green capital as part of that story."

The winner is expected to be named on 14 June.