COUNTY Hall bosses have vowed to oppose plans to create a regional assembly in the North West.

A Government White Paper published last month laid out plans to create regional assemblies which would result in county councils being scrapped.

The strategic functions of the county council -- such as planning and transport -- would pass to the new assembly, while matters like social services and education would probably be passed to newly-created unitary authorities which would be made up of several existing borough councils.

A referendum is likely to be held at the next General Election to see if their is public support for such a plan.

But Hazel Harding, leader of Lancashire County Council, is leading the fight against the proposals, saying it will only serve to make local authorities more remote from people in areas such as East Lancashire.

She said: "We do support the devolution of power and decision-making from Whitehall to the regions.

"However, we do not believe that the option offer in the current white paper would benefit the people of Lancashire or provide the North West with sufficient independence of decision-making to make a difference."