THE official campaign to urge the North-East to reject plans for a regional assembly is now under way.

A new poster hammering home the message will be appearing on billboards all over the region.

The North-East Says No (Nesno) team has been designated as the formal opposition to the Government's draft Regional Assemblies Bill.

The launch took place in Durham with backing from regional Conservatives and the UK Independence Party.

Nesno's slogan is "Politicians talk. We pay." The contention is that an assembly would lead to higher council taxes.

At the launch ceremony, Nesno chairman John Elliott said: "It is talk, talk, talk...but no power. And this talk won't come cheap.

"The issue is getting more simple all the time.

"The regional assembly would have no powers at all. It would be status quo but at a higher cost and no benefit at all.

"It is wrong for the North East."

He told supporters that the campaign was dealing in realities.

"An assembly is nothing but an expensive talking shop," he said.

Ian Dormer, director of Rosh Engineering, said businesses were backing the 'no' campaign.

"We want economic prosperity and there is nothing in this Bill to give us that," he said. "Politicians just create jobs for themselves - not for the people of the North-East.

"They will only create higher costs.

"It is business which creates prosperity and an extra layer of bureaucracy will hinder, not help.

"Prosperity is what we all want. I urge people to come out and vote against this Bill."

Mr Dormer said polls showed many people were undecided.

"This is not a referendum on pipe dreams, it is a debate on Government proposals," he said.

"This whole thing has been done on the hoof. It has not been thought through," said Mr Elliott, whose organisation - as the official "No" campaign body - is allowed to spend public money on putting its message across.

Nesno is focusing most of its resources on the period ahead of ballot papers being sent out, as most people who are going to vote do so within the first week.

The campaign is also preparing to mail every voter in the region to explain why they should vote "No". Businesses and other groups will get targeted mailshots.

And banners will be placed in prominent locations.

Nesno thinks the best way for the Government to underline its commitment to a fair vote is by giving people the facts by sending them the Bill - free from any spin.

John Elliott has written to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott making these points.