PRIME Minister Tony Blair has added his support for a "yes" vote in a referendum to decide if the Sedgefield borough should have an elected mayor.

Mr Blair and Derek Foster, the two Labour MPs for the borough, are urging everyone to take part in a postal ballot next month.

After a consultation exercise on how the council should be governed, members decided to hold a referendum with the preferred option being an elected mayor and cabinet.

The leader of Sedgefield Borough Council, Councillor Brian Stephens, believes the mayor and cabinet option is the best one for the area.

He said: "The Prime Minister and Derek Foster are asking everyone to take advantage of the postal vote. I spoke to the Prime Minister recently and he was fully supportive of the mayoral principle and is more than happy to promote a "yes" vote.

"Derek Foster is also urging everyone to use their vote in the postal ballot for the referendum.

"This is one of the biggest political decisions that will ever be made by the people of Sedgefield borough. After all, this is their council and it is for the voters to decide how they believe the council should be led.

"As a council we have always responded to the wishes of the local people, and it is only right that they will have the final say on how the borough council should be run in the future."

But not every council member is in favour of the mayoral option.

Liberal Democrat councillor Garry Huntington has condemned the exercise as a waste of money.

His preferred option would be for a modified version of the former committee system, but that was not offered as an alternative in consultations.

Arrangements for the referendum are being put in place.

A ballot pack will be posted to every elector in Sedgefield borough on Saturday, October 6, and Monday, October 8.

Ballot papers will have to be returned by Thursday, October 18, and will be counted at the council offices the following day. The result of the referendum will be announced at noon.