Campaigners for a directly-elected mayor in Brighton and Hove have been boosted by another town's referendum result.

People in Watford, Herts, voted narrowly in favour by 51 to 49 per cent on Thursday.

Many supporters of the system have taken heart from the result, which means Watford will become the first area outside London to have a directly-elected mayor.

Brighton and Hove City Council is to hold its referendum on whether to have a directly-elected mayor on October 18 using a postal ballot.

Former council leader Lord Bassam of Brighton said he was delighted with the result in Hertfordshire.

He said: "This will give the campaign to have a directly-elected mayor a much-needed boost and will encourage supporters. It shows it can be done."

Lord Bassam said a city such as Brighton and Hove had a strong identity and many people wanted to see an accountable and transparent leadership.

He said: "We need to increase public understanding of the issue so that there is a good turnout.

"The difference between here and Watford is that Brighton and Hove faces a stark choice between an obscure committee system and the accountable mayoral system."

But Tory opposition leader Brian Oxley said: "The political environment in Watford is very different from here.

"I understand that councillors there were overwhelmingly in favour of a directly-elected mayor but that is not the case in Brighton and Hove, as proved by a vote at last month's council meeting.

"There is everything to play for."