GATESHEAD people have expressed their preference for a cabinet system to run their council, a survey has found.

Gateshead East and Washington West Labour Party secretary John McElroy said: "We are pleased that the majority of people in Gateshead have come to that conclusion.

"Gateshead Council has made great progress in modernising and opening up to scrutiny over the last two years."

Residents were asked through a voluntary consultation process how they would like the council to be run.

Both the Labour and opposition groups on the council backed the leader and cabinet system