Electors last night delivered a vote of no confidence in their town council in the first poll of its kind held in Britain.

There was a 778 to 191 vote in support of a no confidence motion against the controlling Liberal Democrats, who hold all 18 seats on Lewes Town Council.

A total of 981 voters out of nearly 12,000 took part, a turnout of only 8.1 per cent .

They voted at eight polling stations in the town centre yesterday between 4pm and 9 pm.

The poll is estimated to have cost between £3,000 and £5,000. Immediately after the vote there were calls for all councillors to resign and put themselves up for re-election.

But council leader Steve Johnson said there was no question of resigning and his team would see out the next three years of their four-year term.

The poll was called following a split in the controlling Liberal Democrat Party over the way former mayor Dr Graham Mayhew was sacked over ambitious plans to transform the town hall complex into one of the South's top art galleries.

His supporters forced a poll under rules that a referendum can be held on any subject providing ten electors call for one.

It was the first time in living memory Lewes electors have used powers to force a poll on a specific issue for the town's 12,000 electors.

Local government experts said it was the country's first poll where the issue has been a "no confidence" vote in elected councillors. The motion was "that the local government electors in Lewes have no confidence in Lewes Town Council and call upon it to resign and for fresh elections to be held."

Voters were asked to vote simply yes or no.

Dr Mayhew, a town councillor for 20 years, and his supporters actively campaigned for a yes vote on the grounds he had been unfairly treated and was only doing his best for the town.

Opponents say he had become too ambitious and secretive about funding the project. He was not at the count as he was away on a lecture tour.

Penny Brown, his partner and former mayoress, said after the vote: "The council should abide by this democratic vote, resign, and let the electorate decide."

But Coun Johnson said: "Only 8.1 per cent voted. You can't tell councillors to resign on such a small turnout.

"The time to judge us is at the town elections in less than three years' time."

"We are not duty-bound to resign following this vote from a small minority.

Coun Kim Clark said: "The people of Lewes did not want this referendum.

"They are sick to death of whingeing from Dr Mayhew and his supporters."