Campaigners seeking a public referendum on an elected mayor were jubilant today after a Government minister said it was still on the cards for Bradford.

But leading councillors in the city insisted a powerful first citizen to lead the district would be not work as it sought to tackle race relations.

Yesterday Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford announced that the Government 'was still minded' to force Bradford into the referendum, as revealed in later edition's of the Telegraph & Argus.

He said the results of a public consultation exercise into the future structure of the Council were unclear. Some 17,939 people wanted the present system, 13,053 wanted a mayor and cabinet and 6,703 wanted a mayor. But Mr Raynsford told the House of Commons that Secretary of State Stephen Byers was still minded to intervene but added Mr Byers would wait for a paper from the Electoral Commission in the summer before making a final decision.

Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said: "It is a pity when a minister gets onto his own hobby horse without having regard for local conditions."

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group Councillor Jeanette Sunderland: "The experiment over elected mayors has failed. It doesn't do authorities any good. Few people have voted in favour in referendums. Our neighbours, including Kirklees, have been very much against."

But Labour group leader Ian Greenwood said it was sensible to wait until the Electoral Commission report.

John Williams, executive director of the Local Government Network, said he felt a significant number of people indicated they want the vote.

"I understand the sensitivity of deciding to wait, but I am confident and hopeful it will happen," he said.

Jim O'Neill, spokesman for the People's Choice campaign, said: "The Council has failed to convince Mr Raynsford it would be wrong for Bradford. He still sees the governance of Bradford through an elected mayor and the sooner the better."