A CAMPAIGN to persuade Darlington residents to vote "no" in the elected mayor referendum was launched yesterday.

If the referendum is in favour, the elected mayor will take on a role similar to that of the council leader, working with a cabinet.

Former businessman William Charlton is leading the campaign against an elected mayor, and has accused elected mayors of "riding roughshod" over public opinion.

He said: "Evidence from the few places which have opted for an elected mayor shows that it would be a dead-end situation for Darlington.

Stuart Hill, secretary of the Mayor For Darlington Group, said: "In the Tees Valley we already have two elected mayors, one in Hartlepool, the other in Middlesbrough.

"If they were riding roughshod over local opinion, how come they were both re-elected?"