Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has offered management and technical support through his charitable foundation to the new English city elected mayors from May.

Mr Bloomberg, mayor from 2002 to 2013, said Bloomberg Philanthropies will offer the elected mayors in the West Midlands, the West of England, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Tees Valley and Cambridgeshire/Peterborough help for ‘technical assistance, share best practices, strengthen their management skills and explore ways to promote innovation'.