Pro-devolution leaders have vowed to go back to the government 'as quickly as possible' in the hope of securing a new devolution deal.

Officials from councils and other bodies across East Anglia met in Ipswich to discuss a new campaign to win local powers after the original deal was officially withdrawn by the government when West Norfolk councillors rejected proposals, which included an elected mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk.

West Norfolk's decision meant that five out of the seven district councils in Norfolk rejected the proposal, while all seven districts in Suffolk, and the county council, voted to back the deal.

Suffolk councils want to win a county deal and Broadland and South Norfolk – the only two Norfolk councils which backed devoltuion – are weighing up whether to join a 'coalition of the willing.'

Following the meeting, Adnams chairman Andy Wood, who has been co-ordinating efforts to try to bring councils together, said: 'There was strong agreement that we must go back to government as quickly as possible and negotiate a new deal for the 'coalition of the willing' area using the recently withdrawn one as a basis.

'While the door remains very much open to other areas not currently round the table, Leaders are clear that it must not be to the detriment of the residents and businesses of those areas that have shown strong support throughout this process.'