Installing directly-elected mayors in the northwest's towns and cities could be good for the region and for politics, it has been claimed.

According to Liz Meek, who is the new regional director of government office for the northwest, elected mayors could help restore confidence in local democracy.

Ms Meek, who worked with Ken Livingstone when he was mayor of London, was speaking to the Liverpool Daily Post shortly after councillors in Bury submitted plans to the government to hold a referendum on whether to have an elected mayor.

"It's about decentralising power, reducing targets and reporting and the onus falls on the local authorities to get it done," she told the newspaper.

"I'm here to link what's being done on the ground with government ministers and make sure what is planned actually happens."

Meanwhile, the head of a lobby group representing hundreds of businesses has urged the government to create a Greater Manchester mayor.

Daniel Mouawad, chief executive of Pro Manchester, believes a city-regional mayor would boost Manchester's economic development.