Breckland Council's new leader has voiced strong opposition to proposals to have one elected mayor for Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

The move, part of the proposed devolution deal, could bring almost £1bn to East Anglia over the next 30 years.

In his first speech to Breckland's full council, after being elected as leader yesterday, councillor William Nunn said, while he was in favour of working more closely with other councils, he will fight plans to elect a mayor for the three counties.

Mr Nunn, who previously served as Breckland Council leader from 2005 to 2013, said: 'Working with public sector partners to find new ways to provide services is the right way to go.

'The public sector will need to change to meet demand and I have no problem with that.

'I don't know what that will look like, but I don't want someone somewhere else to tell me how it will look.

'There is the threat if we don't take the mayor we won't get the funding.

'As a Conservative I've never liked being bullied. We as a council should not accept a mayor.'

Mr Nunn's view was widely supported by council members.