Bexley has entered a competition to become one of the first London Boroughs of Culture.

The council will launch their bid in October at Hall Place Gardens and they are urging residents to back their bid.

The London Borough of Culture initiative is an invitation from the Mayor of London to London’s Boroughs to channel the creative energy and imagination of their communities into winning more than £1 million to support cultural activities. Bids must be submitted by December 1.

Councillor Peter Craske, the council’s cabinet member for community safety, environment and leisure, said: "Culture has the power to change lives and improve our borough.

“From historic homes and monuments to theatres and arts groups, we are so lucky to have so many cultural sites and activities right on our doorstep. We want to showcase all we have to the whole of London and beyond by becoming the Borough for Culture.

“We've been working hard over the summer to prepare for this, and now we want Bexley's residents and businesses to join with us to back Bexley's bid. Together we can make Bexley London's Borough of Culture!"

ITV has been running a poll for readers to choose what they think should be the borough of culture. Bexley is currently in second, with 20 per cent of the vote.

Here are a few reasons it should be considered:

- Acting legend Michael Gambon went to Crayford Secondary School. The Bexley-raised star is just one of famous name in the arts that was born and bred in Bexley.

- Kate Bush was born in Welling. Being one of Britain's most unique singer songwriters, the Wuthering Heights singer was made a CBE by the queen in 2014.

- Bexley is no stranger to amazing architecture, and Danson House is just one example. Built by Sir John Boyd in 1766 for his second wife Catherine Chapone, Danson House was originally designed by architect Sir Robert Taylor, who was also the architect of the Bank of England. It has been featured on the telly as well, recently so in BBC drama Taboo.

- Another example of culture in Bexley is Hall Place, where the bid will be launched. The gardens sit on the River Cray in Bexley and stretches 65 hectares, and opened to the public in 1952 by the Duchess of Kent.

- The ruins in Abbey Wood are a site to behold. The ruins of this 12th-century Augustinian monastery stand beside the River Thames, near a popular nature reserve. The nearby lodge was recently treated to a multi-million pound improvement project.

- James Bond star sir Roger Moore lived in the borough. Sir Roger moved to Bexley when he married his second wife in 1953 and lived at St Mary's Mount in Wansunt Road for a number of years. He died earlier this year aged 89.

- A pop-up lighthouse has been erected in Erith, showcasing some modern architecture amongst this list of classic examples. The lighthouse featured different chefs cooking their own menus each week, artist workshops and a cafe over the summer.

- Legendary children's author Roald Dahl lived for a time in Bexley while his frequent collaborator, the equally legendary Quentin Blake, is from Sidcup

- The father of the arts and crafts movement William Morris built the famous Red House in Bexleyheath