The Prime Minister has given his backing to creating a mayor for Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and the 10 district and borough councils have called for a mayoral strategic authority to be created.

And Andy Burnham, former mayor of Greater Manchester, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Wednesday (August 12) he supports the idea.

The PM, who was visiting the Oval Community Centre in Stevenage, said the Government should "act quickly" on devolution where "there is an agreement at the local level and it's a consensus and it's clear".

"I don't want areas to feel left behind when other areas with mayors are getting all of the benefits that come with that," he said. "I want Number 10 North to put power into every postcode in the whole of Hertfordshire."

Burnham's backing for an elected Hertfordshire mayor – and an accompanying strategic mayoral authority – comes two weeks after he announced elected mayors across the country will be given a share of revenue from income tax.

He said at the time he wanted to "bring power home" to "every postcode in the country", and the plans would mean more taxes "raised in a community will stay in a community".

Steve Jarvis, the Liberal Democrat leader of HCC, has said he wants a strategic authority for the county "as soon as possible" to bring about "greater inclusive growth and stronger public services".

He has said Hertfordshire has "missed out" on investment opportunities that have been provided to areas with a mayor and strategic authority.

Mr Burnham's backing for a Hertfordshire mayor was welcomed by Labour borough council leaders at Wednesday's event.

Richard Henry, leader of Stevenage Borough Council, said he hoped a new strategic authority could be in place in time for April 2028, when Hertfordshire's existing upper-tier councils will be abolished and replaced with four unitary authorities.

These authorities will take over the existing powers of the county council and 10 borough and district councils, while a new strategic authority could bring the unitaries together on regional issues such as transport and economic development.

Cllr Henry added that a new strategic mayoral authority would be "a really good way to lever in more funding, more opportunities for Hertfordshire as a whole".

Rose Grewal, Labour leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, said it was "essential" Hertfordshire gets an elected mayor and strategic authority, and was "really pleased" to hear of the Prime Minister's support.

Cllr Grewal said: "That is the only vehicle through which we can get the significant amount of targeted funding for growth and the delivery of infrastructure and all of those things that can only happen effectively on a strategic basis."

Jeremy Newmark, Labour leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, said: "There had been some fears that we were being left behind in comparison with other parts of the country, so it's incredibly welcome to hear that the Prime Minister is giving this his personal backing.

"One thing that all the council leaders [in Hertfordshire] have been consistently united on is the need for an elected mayor and a strategic authority so that we can get the real prizes that come from the devolution agenda."