REGIONAL Assembly chiefs today urged the county council to re-join their organisation for the good of the people in Lancashire.

Lancashire County Council pulled out of the regional assembly, which is currently non-elected and made up of local authorities which come together to campaign on regional issues, earlier this year.

A regional vote is due to take place in 2004 and an elected North West assembly could be in place by 2006.

The council claimed the body had been deliberately campaigning in favour of the referendum on elected regional government and for a 'Yes' vote in that referendum. It demanded subscriptions, to the tune of £27,000, should be repaid..

The county council also claimed that using its subscriptions to campaign for a 'Yes' vote was unlawful, because council money was not supposed to fund campaigns.

The NWRA insists it has done nothing wrong and has refused to give the money back.

Both LCC and the NWRA have sought legal advice to back up their actions.

Today Derek Boden, the Nelson-born leader of the NWRA, said: "We have never campaigned in favour of an elected regional assembly.

"We have just raised the profile of the soundings exercise where people had the chance to have their say on whether they wanted a referendum.

"It is vitally important that people across the North West feel involved with what is happening over the next year, including consultations on what should happen to local government structures.

"I would be more than happy for the county council to rejoin and play a full and active role in a very important 12 months."

One of the reasons that the county council is opposed to a regional assembly is because of the number of members it would have -- just 35 for the whole North West, fewer than the number of MPs for the area.

Council leader Hazel Harding said: "I can assure the people of Lancashire that the county council's withdrawal has not, and will not, prevent the authority playing a full role on the regional stage.

"Clearly, if the assembly has proposals for future co-operation, the county council will consider them."