Dundee has joined the four other UK cities ruled out of the running for the European Capital of Culture 2023 in questioning the "legitimacy" of the decision.

The teams had spent more than two years preparing their bids and were due to present their final pitches this week.

Councillor John Alexander from Dundee City Council along with leaders from Leeds, Nottingham, Belfast and Milton Keynes, have urged the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to seek further advice.

It comes after a meeting between the five city representatives and the DCMS on Tuesday to discuss the announcement from the European Commission.

The statement signed by the leaders of the five cities said: "We urged the department to continue its negotiations with the European Commission on the legitimacy of its latest decision.

"In particular we wish to highlight that the announcement by the European Commission counters a very recent decision of the European Parliament in June 2017 and of the council in September 2017 which includes a calendar confirming the UK as the host country in 2023."

It adds: "In addition, we are seeking clarity given that the United Kingdom has not yet left the EU and the terms of that departure are not yet agreed.

"We have collectively therefore requested that DCMS takes further advice on the legal status of the announcement as a matter of urgency."