SIXTY thousand copies of the council newspaper the Shuttle were delivered and just 253 voting forms were returned. Of these 27 per cent voted for mayor with cabinet, 64 per cent chose council leader and cabinet, and eight per cent preferred mayor with council manager. One per cent had no preference.

6,000 leaflets in public buildings around Blackburn with Darwen, and an option to vote by Internet produced 116 people responses. Of these 37 per cent preferred mayor and cabinet, 54 per cent council leader and cabinet and six per cent an elected mayor and council manager. Three per cent of forms chose no options.

The council said £5,785 was spent on the special edition of the Shuttle and the leaflets.

Council employees voted, but just 73 responsed from more than 6,500. Of these 35 per cent chose mayor and cabinet, 37 per cent council leader and cabinet and 25 per cent mayor and council manager.

112 forms were returned from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph poll, with 36 per cent preferring a mayor and cabinet, 43 per cent choosing council leader and cabinet, nine per cent choosing mayor and council manager and three per cent with no preference.

In total 2,364 people from Blackburn with Darwen's 140,000 population (1.7 per cent) took part in the survey. 1107 people were interviewed by professional market researchers. In this poll 30 per cent preferred leader and cabinet, 22 per cent a mayor and cabinet and 11 per cent chose a mayor and council manager. 37 per cent did not express a preference.

703 people from the council's 1700 strong Citizens Panel took part in the consultation. Of these 27 per cent favoured mayor and cabinet, 62 per cent council leader/cabinet and 11 per cent mayor and council manager. Under one per cent backed leader and cabinet.