Birmingham debate over elected mayor issue

About 75 people have attended a debate in Birmingham to discuss whether a directly-elected mayor would be good for the area.

Representatives from groups for and against the proposals debated the issue at the Hyatt hotel earlier.

The panel of nine included MPs Richard Burden and Roger Godsiff (Labour) and John Hemming (Liberal Democrats).

Referendums will be held in 11 English cities next May to decide if people want an elected mayor.

Leicester already has an elected mayor and referendums will be held in Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and Wakefield, next May.

People in the cities have been given the chance to decide the powers of their own directly-elected mayors.

Residents have been asked to give their views in a consultation, which started on 1 November and will end on 3 January next year.