Only half the people in Brighton and Hove want a directly-elected mayor, according to surveys.

The council asked thousands of people for their views through its civic paper, The Argus, a citizens' panel and a random survey.

It found 25.6 per cent favoured the current experimental system, which has a council leader and Cabinet.

Sixteen per cent favoured a directly-elected mayor with a council manager, while 34 per cent wanted to see the mayor with a Cabinet.

Now the council will have to decide whether to hold a referendum on the issue in the spring.

If voters opt for a directly-elected mayor an election could be held in October this year, with the winner taking control soon afterwards.

Enthusiasm for having a powerful First Citizen is less clear-cut than many leading councillors had expected.

Focus groups came out generally in favour of a directly-elected mayor but there were reservations.

A report to councillors says: "Many people welcomed the idea of a high-profile mayor who would be accountable and whose election might involve the community more in the democratic process.

"However there were also concerns that, while an accountable and powerful mayor could shake things up, if the wrong person got the job it could make things a lot worse."

A fact pack sent to business and voluntary groups in Brighton and Hove proved to be a flop - only two replied.

Lib Dem group leader Paul Elgood said: "This is not the ringing endorsement for a directly-elected mayor that many thought that option would get."

Current Brighton and Hove mayor Andy Durr said: "We have still got to go out to a formal referendum before October anyway, so I don't feel anything about the issue.

"Everybody should be asked their views, but we will see what they think in October."