TOWN Hall chiefs have welcomed the backing of Bury MP David Chaytor in their bid to merge with Rossendale.

As reported in the Bury Times, Mr Chaytor told Parliament that a Bury/Rossendale option should be on the ballot paper in the October referendum on regional government.

If residents say "yes" to a regional assembly, county and district councils will be dismantled and Rossendale voters can choose to link up with another town, such as Blackburn or Burnley.

So far the Boundary Committee has refused to give them the choice to join Bury, but it will make its final decision by the end of May.

Mr Mark Sanders, Bury Council chief executive, said: "We are grateful to Mr Chaytor for raising this important issue and launching a debate on our proposal in the House of Commons.

"In doing so he has raised the profile of Bury and highlighted the council's ambitions not just for the people of Bury but those who currently don't have access to a lower council tax, three-star education service and rapidly-improving housing and social services."