Local government minister Stephen Byers has announced plans to force councils to have referendums on elected mayors - if local people want them.

He told the Labour conference in Brighton: "We do not want to compel people to have an elected mayor, but I feel that local people should have the choice to vote for a mayor if that is what they want."

Mr Byers added: "If there is a feeling that there is popular support for a vote on the option, we will not allow local people to be deprived of the opportunity.

"I hope that councils have got that message. If not we will use powers to compel them to have a ballot on whether they want a mayor."

Brighton and Hove is due to vote in a referendum on October 18 to decide whether to go for an elected mayor. This is one of several such polls expected this year.

Ken Livingstone was elected Mayor of London last year but outside the capital so far only Watford and Doncaster have approved the idea.