Local authorities are to get a shake up next year, as six towns in Poland are to gain city status with the coming of 2010.

The daily Rzeczpospolita writes that a new gmina, the smallest Polish territorial unit, is to be created, as well as numerous district border changes, the most notable being Rzeszow in south-eastern Poland, which will grow by some 30 sq.km.

There are a planned 365 name changes for towns and cities across the country, many of them simply include the dropping of archaic names that are no longer in use, marking the curious end for Nowy Jork (New York) near Wloclawek, central Poland.

The daily reports how every year the appointment of city status is always seen with positive emotions, and the citizens of the as yet unknown settlements of Łaszczow, Kolaczyce, Przeclaw, Radłow, Tychowo and Szepietowo will become city-dwellers from the 1 January, which will bring the number of cities to 903 in Poland. (jb)