THE North West could be given the chance to vote on whether it wants a regional assembly next year -- spelling the end of the traditional county council.

If the public vote 'yes', the regional assembly say jobs could be created within two years.

But the leader of Lancashire County Council believes a yes vote could mean huge job losses in local government.

County councillor Hazel Harding, said: "A regional assembly would almost certainly mean the end of every existing council in Lancashire and the reorganisation of local government on completely new boundaries

"In the last local government re-organisation around 1,000 jobs were lost at the county council."

But, regional assembly chiefs said when Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen became a unitary authority, jobs were created.

A spokesman said: "Although this is a local government issue up to local government to resolve, together with the Electoral Commission, it's fair to say there will be job creation in the unitary authorities that may succeed the current two tier system of counties and boroughs."

A spokesman for UNISON, the union representing the majority of council staff, said although the job issue had not been looked into the union were in favour of regional government. If the public vote for the regional assembly to go ahead, it could lead to local authorities like Preston and South Ribble becoming unitary authorities, running their own services like education and social services. It would also be responsible for the economy and planning.

But Coun Harding said there is a danger that local people may not be properly represented. She said: "It's important for local democracy that decision-making in local government stays as local as possible. There is a danger that a new regional tier, as it is proposed at the moment, would make decision-taking more remote. Local representation could be drastically reduced."