DARLINGTON decides today whether it should radically transform its political system and go for an elected mayor.

And last night, it appeared as if a surprisingly large number of people had already taken the opportunity to cast their votes.

It is understood that more than 60 per cent of 12,000 postal votes have been returned.

The remaining 58,000 voters across the borough - which stretches from the outskirts of Shildon to the edge of Stockton - will have their say at more than 50 polling stations.

If the borough votes "Yes", it will signal the end of a system in which councillors elect the leader of the council who then governs with a cabinet.

In will come a new-style mayor who will be directly elected by the borough on Thursday, May 1, next year.

If today's referendum decides "No" the system will remain unchanged.

The vote was triggered in March by Yes campaigners who collected almost 4,000 signatures - the minimum number required by law to force a referendum.

The campaigners argue the council is undemocratic because a small number of Labour councillors elect a leader.

Those in favour of a directlyelected mayor say the position is so important the whole town should have a say on who it is.

They point out that although the Conservatives won more votes than Labour in May's local elections, Labour still holds a five-seat majority in the council chamber.

An elected mayor, the Yes group says, would have more legitimacy.

The No campaigners believe the town's recent developments - including a pedestrianised town centre, new schools and refurbished arts and leisure centres - prove the council is working well.

They say council leader John Williams makes decisions in consultation with a cabinet and full council, who are elected by the people.

An elected mayor, the group argues, would be an elected dictator on a four-year term.

But Yes and No groups agreed on one thing yesterday - that a strong turnout is vital.

Since 2001, 34 towns and cities have had referendums on whether to have an elected mayor. Of those, 12 have said yes.

Sunderland, which voted in October 2001, recorded the joint lowest turnout - ten per cent. Ealing, Bedford, Southwark, Lewisham, and Kirklees also had turnouts below 20 per cent.

But campaigners hope Darlington will follow the example of Berwick and the Isle of Wight, which recorded turnouts of more than 60 per cent.

Stuart Hill, of the Yes campaign, said: "The more people turn out, the stronger our democracy is - regardless of which way the vote goes.

"I don't think the majority of people will vote, but we will see.

Whatever happens, nobody can crib at the result - everyone has had an equal chance.

"In the end, it will be about who has won the argument."

Alan Charlton, from the No campaign, said: "Some places have had turnouts as low as ten per cent, which must have been disappointing for the campaigners, and I'm really hoping it doesn't go like that in Darlington.

"I hope we have generated enough interest in the community.

I really don't think there's anything more either side could have done - we have worked hard to get the message across."

Coun Williams also encouraged residents to vote.

"It is a very big day for the future of Darlington and it is important that everyone who has a vote uses it in the referendum,"

he said.

If turnout in the postal vote proves to be 60 per cent, this would mean that ten per cent of the electorate had voted - a useful starting point in attempts to get the turnout to as high a level as possible.

Darlington is the seventh area in the North-East to have a mayoral referendum. Sunderland, Sedgefield, and Durham voted no, while Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, and North Tyneside voted yes.