Residents have rejected new-look local government in favour of a streamlined version of the old-fashioned committee system.

A Brighton and Hove City Council consultation found 70 per cent of residents who responded to a survey wanted a modernised version of the old model if proposals for a directly elected mayor failed.

Only 19 per cent said they favoured a leader and cabinet, the system currently used to govern Brighton and Hove, as an alternative.

The council asked voters for their view on the best fall-back option if a referendum rejected plans for an all-powerful, directly elected mayor.

The referendum, expected in October, will ask a simple yes or no question on whether the city should adopt a mayor, similar to Ken Livingstone in London.

A directly elected mayor is backed by the council's New Labour hierarchy but bitterly opposed by a cross-party alliance, comprising Labour dissidents, Tories, Lib Dems and Greens.

Alliance vice-chair Francis Tonks said: "It is a victory for common sense. The more people know about these arrangements, the more they go for the tried and tested rather than these souped-up schemes.

"I would assume with these kind of figures the council is bound to recommend as a fall-back the committee system."

The council has to tell ministers whether it wants a streamlined committee system or a leader and cabinet as a fall-back before the end of next month.

The issue is due to be decided at a city council meeting on June 28.

Eleven per cent of the 1,900 who responded to the consultation said they had no preference.