DISAFFECTED campaign groups have hatched a plan to force a 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 Darlington, on whether people want a directly-elected mayor.

They are all angry with Darlington Borough 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, who hold similar powers to a council leader.

Three of these are in the North-East: Middlesbrough's Ray Mallon, John Harrison in North Tyneside and Stuart Drummond in Hartlepool.

In order to force Darlington borough Council to hold a referendum the Referendum Group must produce a petition with signatures from five per cent of the electoral roll.

The campaign draws its membership from:

l 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

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

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

l 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."

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.

Bill Dixon, deputy leader of Labout-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."

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 petition of nearly 11,000 city voters would be needed.

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.