Watford’s Elected Mayor said the position is "too important to throw away" after an MP said it should be axed if it is not a full-time role.

Dorothy Thornhill said her political rivals are "obsessed" with her campaign for Westminster and has reiterated her belief that she could work both jobs for a year should she be elected in May.

Richard Harrington, Watford’s MP, called the plan ‘fanciful’ and said the mayoralty should be scrapped if it is not a full-time position.

But Mayor Thornhill pointed to the precedent set by Mr Harrington’s Conservative colleague, Boris Johnson, who said he will continue as the Mayor of London if he wins the Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat.

She said: "I’m flattered the other parties are obsessed with what will happen when I win - as that seems to be their view.

"Richard Harrington doesn’t have to look far along his own benches to see other people holding other jobs on top of being an MP.

"Much of what I do [now] I would do as MP - there is a cross over."

Mayor Thornhill said there are two options on the table should she be elected MP - she would take a pay-cut and delegate ‘considerable responsibilities’ to deputy mayors or a by-election would be called.

But the Liberal Democrat would be reluctant to call a by-election as the decision as to who should be mayor is too important to rush.

She said: "The role of the mayor is too important to throw away on a by-election.

"The town needs time to suss the candidates out, and the candidates need time to paint their view of the future and lay their stall out. 

"It would be robbing the people of Watford the chance to select the right person for the future of the town - regardless of party."

She added: "It is a full-time job, so the second option might be for me to delegate considerable responsibilities to a couple of deputies at a much reduced salary while still technically being the mayor.

"However, were that to be unpopular with people, we have the option of a by-election."