DISAFFECTED campaign groups have hatched a plan to force Darlington Borough Council into holding a referendum for a directly-elected mayor.

Campaigners have collected many of the 3,900 names they need to force a referendum in the town on whether people want a directly-elected mayor.

They are angry with the council for pushing ahead with controversial plans in the town.

A new Darlington mayor would have the same powers as those already enjoyed by England's 12 directly-elected mayors, three of which are in the North-East: Ray Mallon in Middlesbrough, John Harrison in North Tyneside and Stuart Drummond in Hartlepool.

In order to force Darlington Borough Council to hold a referendum, the Referendum Group, which does not have a political affiliation, must produce a petition with signatures from five per cent of the electoral roll. The campaign draws its membership from:

* Darlington Civic Trust, which objected to the removal of Victorian features on Darlington's High Row as part of the £6.5m Pedestrian Heart project

* Share, a campaign group fighting plans to merge Hurworth School with Eastbourne Comprehensive into a £25m Church of England Academy

* Save the White Horse, which is opposed to plans to demolish the White Horse Hotel and replace it with flats

* Taxi drivers angry with the council over the imposition of an extra driving test, which they must pass to qualify for a licence.

Last night, the Darlington Referendum Group issued a statement which said: "The new mayor would be the political head of the council, responsible for its policies and for exercising its executive powers.

"She or he would become well-known to the electorate and directly identified with the decisions of the council.

"The group feels the time is right for the electorate of Darlington to decide whether this fundamental change would produce a more democratic, responsive and accountable local authority, giving people a bigger say in what the council does and a better deal on local services."

The news of the plan comes shortly before Local Government Minister David Miliband publishes his State of The Cities report, which is expected to suggest introducing more elected mayors.

Last night, Bill Dixon, deputy leader of Labour-controlled Darlington council, said: "It would be a shame to consider a directly-elected mayor, as it would result in the loss of the office of the civic mayor, which is a long and illustrious tradition in the town.

"The present system has proved incredibly successful.

"We have the lowest council tax in the North-East, we are a four-star rated authority - the highest ranking that can be allocated by the Government - and only three out of 356 local authorities nationwide got a better judgement than Darlington in a recent Government inspection on delivering value for money."

Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Swainston said: "I am not surprised that these groups have got together, they are totally infuriated because no one is listening to them."

Conservative Councillor Tony Richmond said: "If that is what they want to do, then they are entitled. We will have to wait and see what the outcome is."

l Yesterday, Mike Tansley, an independent councillor in Sunderland, launched a campaign for a directly-elected mayor in the city.

A referendum was held in 2001, but only one in ten of Sunderland's voters turned out and it was rejected by 12,000 to 9,000 votes.