EAST Lancashire councils have been set an eight week deadline to put forward an argument for their survival.

The time-scale has been laid down by deputy prime minister John Prescott who is overseeing proposals for a new, elected North West regional assembly.

But Euro MP Chris Davies has accused the Government of placing an impossible burden on local authorities and denying people of the right to have a full discussion.

Mr Prescott is keen to end the division between district and county councils and has instructed councils to submit representations to the Boundary Committee by September 8. The committee will then have the task of making recommendations and suggesting two options for the future of local government in the North West.

Mr Davies claims the cards are already stacked against smaller councils.

"The Government talks about democracy and choice but in practice it is denying local people the chance to keep local change to a minimum while still decentralising from London," said Mr Davies.

"I strongly support the principle of having an elected North West Assembly but this is the wrong way to go about it. We should not make the transfer of power from London dependent on the abolition of local councils that may be doing a perfectly good job."