RESIDENTS in a Ribble Valley parish have issued a strong warning to a neighbouring council - Back Off Blackburn.

More than 100 people attended a public meeting at Mellor village hall last night to launch the BOB campaign in response to proposals for a shake-up of local government if the North West votes for a regional assembly.

The Government is carrying out a review which would see local authorities reorganised if people vote for the regional assembly in September.

Suggestions made by the Boundary Committee are for a county-wide Lancashire unitary authority, an East Lancashire authority, or two East Lancashire authorities - one for Burnley Pendle and Rossendale and another for Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

But Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Sir Bill Taylor sparked a row last month when he put forward a revised plan which would see only part of the Ribble Valley joining with Blackburn, Darwen and Hyndburn.

He further angered residents of Mellor and Langho, which are among the 10 affected parishes, when he said many residents there considered themselves to be part of Blackburn already.

In response Emma Dickinson, 25, of St Mary's Gardens, launched the BOB campaign to give residents a voice.

At last night's meeting Emma, backed by ward councillor Charles Warkman and Parish councillor Sheila Turner urged residents to sign a petition opposing a merger with Blackburn with Darwen.

Emma said: "We want everyone in the area to sign this petition which we will send to the Boundary Committee to voice our objections.

"We will also photocopy the petition and hand deliver a copy to Sir Taylor."

Coun Warkman also urged residents to write personally to the Boundary Committee highlighting their concerns about the proposals.

He said: "I will support BOB with everything I have got. I have represented Mellor for 21 years and I believe Mellor has a voice in the council chamber which is being heard and I pray the Ribble Valley is not split up.

"The more people that write and send concerns through the internet the better."

Issues he said people should include in their objections included the cost of the changeover and an urban council running a rural area. The deadline for consultation over the changes is next week.