THE Leader of Lancashire County Council has welcomed the possibility of an elected assembly for the North West which would operate alongside the county council.

But she pledged that the county would continue to operate as well as the new assembly, despite rumours it could be axed.

County Councillor Hazel Harding spoke following a meeting with Secretary of State for Local Government Stephen Byers.

Councillor Hazel Harding explained: "The news coming from the Government is very positive and it means that the people of the North West could, if they wished, bring more power directly to

their region.

"This would mean that many decisions could be made in the North rather than in Westminster.

"I have had categorical assurances from Stephen Byers that county councils would continue to deliver services on a local level in the same way that we do at the moment.

"The only difference would be that we could work very closely with a regional assembly to ensure our residents got the best possible deal."