Richard III reburial ballot sees thousands apply for public seats

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Thousands of people have applied to an online ballot for a seat at the reburial of King Richard III at Leicester Cathedral next year.

More than 13,500 people have applied online for entry to three services to mark the reinterment of the king.

There will be 200 seats for the public at the reburial, with a further 400 spaces at two other services.

The Dean of Leicester said there had been "lots of interest" with applications from around the world.

The ballot opened on 12 December and 5,000 people applied on the first day.

Hundreds more paper forms have been received by the cathedral and are yet to be counted.

Applications closed at midday on Wednesday,

The cathedral said spaces would now be allocated at random, with half of those available being reserved for residents in Leicestershire and Rutland.

All those selected will receive an invitation from the Dean, the Very Reverend David Monteith, after 12 January.

"Clearly there's lots of interest in the English royal's story," he said.

"It is only three months away and we need to give people due notice, and of course some will be travelling from all over the world."

He said applications had come from the United States, Canada, Australia, Africa and Japan.

Those unsuccessful in the ballot will be able to watch the services on TV and on big screens placed around Leicester.

Reburial timetable