Business leaders in the South West of England have welcomed the election of the first mayor to oversee the West of England Combined Authority, which covers Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

Conservative Tim Bowles was elected after beating Labour’s Lesley Mansell, when second-preference votes were counted. The new mayoral post is part of a £1 billion devolution deal secured by the three authorities.

Nick Sturge, South West regional chairman of the Institute of Directors, called on Mr Bowles to “ensure that the new combined authority is effective in stimulating inclusive economic growth”.

He added: “It is such an important role for the West of England area — to provide strong and visionary leadership and an effective and constructive chairmanship of the Cabinet of the three partner local authorities.

“We do not want to see simply another layer of bureaucracy — or traditional thinking. The opportunity to deliver creative solutions across the key responsibilities of housing, transport, skills and economic development is exciting.”