AN East Lancashire Council leader has claimed that an elected North West Regional Assembly could have prevented the closure of care homes in Lancashire.

Asar Ali, who chairs the current unelected body, believes that the controversial shutting of the homes for the elderly was a mistake.

And he said that if there had been an elected regional assembly with powers over health service spending it could have intervened to ensure the homes stayed open.

He was speaking as supporters of an assembly lobbied ministers, including Deputy Premier John Prescott, in London.

Councillor Ali said he was confident that the government would include legislation to allow referendum on creating regional assemblies in the Queen's Speech on November 13.

And he is determined to make sure that the North West joins the North East in the first wave of the new bodies.

He told the Evening Telegraph: "It is important that we do ensure we are among the first wave of new assemblies.

"I believe that an elected North West Regional Assembly could have prevented many of the care home closures and come up with a proper strategy for care of the elderly.

"I believe that the closure programme by Lancashire County Council was a mistake.

"To create a regional assembly Lancashire County Council would have to be abolished and replaced by unitary authorities like Blackburn with Darwen.

"I believe that the combination of a North West Regional Assembly and unitary authorities could have found the money to save the homes.

"The regional assembly, with powers over health and social services spending, could have intervened directly in the issue in the way Whitehall was not prepared to do."