All of West Yorkshire will benefit if Channel 4 decides to build one of their new bases in Leeds, the region’s most senior councillors have said.

The city is in the running to be the host of the station’s first national headquarters outside London, with the prospect of around 300 new jobs up for grabs.

But while Leeds City Council is responsible for pitching the offer to Channel 4 bosses, leaders in Wakefield, Bradford and Kirklees have been quick to throw their collective weight behind the bid.

It is hoped that the relative youth of the West Yorkshire population will help sway the decision makers.

Wakefield council leader Peter Box said: “My city thinks it’s got a very strong cultural offer. If Leeds is successful in its bid, it will only enhance that cultural offer.

“All of us will benefit. It will mean young people are more likely to stay in our region and live, work and play here.

“The potential impact on creative arts here could be massive. We should all get behind Leeds.”

Leeds is competing against Birmingham and Manchester to be the home of the headquarters after 10 other locations were eliminated during the shortlisting process.

The city could also host one of two new creative hubs Channel 4 are setting up  outside the capital in 2019.

Bradford council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said her city has the “youngest population in the UK”, with a quarter of its residents under the age of 16.

She said: “The vibrancy, energy and potential we have in this city region is massive. We must all put our best foot forward and make sure this happens.”

Coun Shabbir Pandor, leader of Kirklees Council said a winning bid would create “new opportunities” for the local economy.

He added: “This will put the city region on the map internationally.”

The Leeds bidding team will make a new pitch to the station on August 16, before a final decision is made on the new locations in the autumn.