'People have been waiting for change'

Brenda Procter, aged 58, from Cobridge, said: "I wanted and expected the result, because people in the city are disillusioned with the politics and everything that has happened.

"People have been waiting for a change and campaigners have been saying they should not give total control to one person.

Alan Thompson, aged 67, from Shelton, said: "I voted 'Yes', but people couldn't understand why they were voting 'Yes' or 'No'. It should have been for or against.

"The elected mayor was just a hangers-on system. There are plenty of people who could do his job for less than him."

Barry Oldacre, aged 70, from Penkhull, said: "It was right to have a referendum, but it was so complicated.

"I don't agree with the elected mayor, but I voted 'No' because otherwise they could have voted in a BNP council.

"But it is the money. The elected mayor costs too much money and I was not happy with the system."

Jeffrey Fitzgerald, aged 58, from Stoke, said: "The elected mayor is a waste of money and has not really changed the city.

"I did not vote because I thought the vote was Friday morning, but I was going to vote 'Yes'."

John Clarke, aged 62, from Hanley, said: "I voted for the elected mayor because I think the councillors will be up and down all the time.

"It will be like Parliament because they will just squabble among themselves.

"We will have to see what happens, but it was not what I wanted. I was happy with the performances of the elected mayors."