CAMPAIGNERS have secured more than three-quarters of the signatures they need to force a referendum for a directly elected mayor in Crewe and Nantwich.

Since their campaign was launched last month, members of Crewe's Memorial Action Team (MAT) have been inundated with more than 3,000 signatures calling for radical reforms to the borough council's structure.

The team is now just over 1,000 signatures short of their 4,300 target - five per cent of the local electorate - which would spark a borough-wide referendum on the issue in the next six months.

More than 100 people signed the petition inside two hours on Monday morning, and the campaigners have conducted a vigorous campaign that has seen them on the streets of Crewe and Nantwich four times a week.

MAT Leader Frank Jones said: "We're doing very well and conducting our campaign with great gusto.

"We've got just over 3,000 signatures at the moment, and we're going through the laborious task of checking people are on the electoral register.

"We're trying to get well over the 4,300 target so the council can't say to us that we haven't got enough.

"Most people are very enthusiastic and happy to sign - they say it's time for change.

"We take great pains to explain to people what they are signing, this isn't just about the memorial and we emphasise that."

Conservative council leader Brian Silvester said his group would be looking to consult the public before deciding their position.

He explained: "We would like to hear the views of the people of the borough before making a decision.

"The reason this has been brought about is due to the lack of consultation on the memorial."