BUT. A seemingly insignificant word that may yet have a significant effect on the bid to create an elected North-East assembly.

The word crops up at the most vital moment, just as voters in rural Teesdale, in County Durham, have finished agreeing the need for a stronger voice in North-East affairs.

But -there we go again -they say the Yes campaign has failed to provide enough details to allow them to make an informed decision.

It is then that fears over increased bureaucracy, how any assembly would divide its funds and the true extent of its powers are swiftly raised.

Faced with a lack of facts, many may yet simply decide to stick with the status quo.

Restaurateur Bill Oldfield, chairman of Teesdale Marketing, a not-for-profit company set up to promote Teesdale, said: "In my experience as chairman and as a local resident, everybody I talk to is confused about what it will entail.

"If this could be an organisation that will represent the North-East strongly, then obviously it is a good idea. But there has not been enough information put out and the whole thing is getting mixed up with local government reorganisation.

"I will probably be leaving it as long as possible before I make my decision."

His views are echoed by Hugh Becker, a director of Teesdale Tradition Taverns and a member of the North-East Tourism Advisory Board.

Although Mr Becker said he was in favour of devolution, he said he could not vote for a regional assembly without knowing more.

"I think I am reasonably well informed, but I have not been able to glean enough information to make a genuine composed decision.

"We do not know what it will be able to undertake, and it is too serious a thing. Until we know more I can only say No."

However, Mr Becker said if an assembly was set up, he would prefer to see a single authority in County Durham, rather than three amalgamated district councils.

He said: "I think a single-tier authority for the whole of Durham is the most cost effective, but it would have been nice to have been given the chance to vote on it, and not as part of the assembly debate."

David Maughan, a farmer at Morton Tinmouth, near Staindrop, said many farmers he has spoken to were against the idea of an assembly.

He said: "It would be nice to think that if the assembly was in charge of its own funding, it would be go towards rural areas, but I think a 25-man assembly would be dominated by urban members.

"There is also the issue of the loss of local representation. I am inclined to think three authorities would be better than one authority.

"I think most people in Weardale and Teesdale would like their services kept local. We are quite clearly aware that urban conurbations will tend to draw more resources."

Teesdale youth worker Mike Freeman, 22, said many young people were not interested in the referendum because they felt that, whatever the result, things were unlikely to change.

A random poll of 104 people carried out by the Teesdale Mercury last week found that 37 per cent of people were undecided about an assembly, 33 per cent would vote Yes, and 30 per cent would vote No.

* A public debate about the assembly will take place at Teesdale Comprehensive School, in Barnard Castle, at 7.30pm next Thursday.