A town councillor has launched a one-man campaign to force a referendum over whether Ryedale should have town centre managers.

Coun Gerry Cooper says appointing unelected managers to promote Malton and Norton goes against democracy.

He is convinced that a majority of residents in the two towns are against the plan.

"All I need is ten signatures from members of the public calling for a referendum, to present this to the returning officer and the council has to hold a referendum," he said.

Coun Cooper's call came after fellow members of Malton Town Council rejected his plan at their monthly meeting.

The managers would operate separately from the council, with funding from local businesses, and devise ways of promoting both Malton and Norton.

Coun David Lloyd-Williams said there was a danger that the plan to introduce town centre managers could be scuppered if it did not get proper support.

"This whole thing has been started up with the intention of promoting our towns and it is important we do not forget this," he said.

"I think that rather than dismissing it out of hand we should run with it."

But Coun Cooper remained convinced that the public were against having independent managers.

"We have no mandate here; it is up to us represent the public who voted us in and I believe a referendum would settle the matter once and for all," he said.