PENDLE councillors have agreed to seek a merger with Burnley in the planned local government reorganisation.

Council leader Alan Davies told members if they did not take the opportunity to create a unitary authority, they faced being swallowed up by Lancashire County Council.

A Burnley and Pendle council would take on all local government roles currently dealt with by the county council.

Lib Dem councillors said the merger would mean savings of between £2million and £9million, which could be ploughed back into services or used to cut council tax.

Labour councillors backed the plan but called for full public consultation.

Group leader Mohammad Iqbal said figures were very vague, adding: "If you tell people council tax will be down or there will be millions of pounds for services then of course they will say yes.

"But if you asked them if they wanted to get into bed with Burnley the answer would be a resounding no'." Tories, joined by BNP councillor Brian Parker, voted against the move, saying there was no proof it would improve services.

Lib Dem Coun Tony Greaves said he had been sceptical at first but changed his mind after reading initial studies. He said it would be better to have the council remain as it is, but that would not be an option.

Concerns were raised by Coun Parker and Lib Dem Coun Ian Robinson that the new authority would mean fewer councillors, with plans to cut the overall number by around a third.

After the meeting, Pendle MP Gordon Prentice called for full consultation of residents, saying: "This radical proposal cannot just be waved through."

Coun Davies said if the government was willing to explore the option, there would be wide-reaching consultation.

Burnley Council will decide tonight whether or not to support the merger plan.