Leicester's bid to become a World Cup host city has been given a boost after rival Nottingham's proposal was hit by a political row.

Leicester City Council leader Ross Willmott said the wrangle between city and county councils in Notts strengthened Leicester's chances of being part of England's 2018 plans.

Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council have resorted to throwing insults at each other because the city wants a new football ground while the county says the City Ground should be redeveloped.

As a result, Notts County Council has pulled out of the bid altogether meaning their application looks set to go no further.

It now leaves a regional two-horse-race between the city's Walkers Stadium and Derby's Pride Park to become one of at least 10 stadiums to be selected by the Football Association.

Leicester City Council will submit its final bid to the FA in November and a month later the FA will announce which cities they would want to host games in December 2010.

Councillor Ross Willmott says that Nottingham's demise is good news, and he believes Leicester's bid is superior to Derby's.

He said: " Far be it from me to gloat over Nottingham's misfortune, but it does strengthen our position.

"It is not impossible that both Leicester and Derby could be selected. But I believe Leicester is the front runner because of our location and the experience we have of running major events.

"We have demonstrated with One Big Sunday, which attracted 100,000 people, and the Special Olympics that we have a track record of dealing with lots of visitors."

Nottingham's bid unravelled yesterday after a public row between the two councils involved in the bid.

It was the county council who pulled the plug after the city council announced last Monday that it wanted a new stadium outside the city boundary.

It then appeared that the city's announcement had been made without consulting the county council.

All football fans are being urged to get down to the Highcross shopping centre this weekend to back Leicester's 2018 World Cup bid.

The Back the Bid shop, which opened at the beginning of the month, will be closing its doors tomorrow as its free lease comes to an end.

People can visit the store, in the ground floor of the shopping centre, to vote online for the city's bid, pick up information about the campaign, buy merchandise and have a kick-about on a five-a-side pitch.