Election will not take place in Bedford this year, the Government has announced.

John Healey, the Minister for Local Government, confirmed the decision today, March 28, after it was passed through Parliament.

2008 was scheduled to be an election year for Bedford Borough Council, with a third of council seats up for grabs. But with a major shake-up of local government set to take place in 2009, newly-elected members would serve for less than a year.

Alistair Burt, MP for North East Bedfordshire, predicted the move last week.

After hearing the confirmation he said: "For purely practical reasons this has been accepted by the Government and the opposition. Work can now start for the shadow authorities to prepare for unitary status.

"Everybody involved in the debate praised the work done by the local authorities in Bedfordshire, particularly the county council.

"This will be a clean slate with new authorities, so let's all get behind them and get on with the job of providing the county with the best local government it can have."