SPECULATION that planned autumn referendums could be postponed were brushed off last night.

The Government is awaiting the outcome of an inquiry by the Electoral Commission into all postal voting, which it is believed could force a delay in the vote.

But campaigners pushing for a "yes" vote and business leaders in the region have said they are confident it will still go ahead as planned but, if it doesn't, they are unfazed by the prospect of a delay.

Ross Forbes, director of Yes4theNorthEast, said: "We will just roll with it.

"We are geared up for an autumn referendum, but should that be postponed we will just adjust our timetable."

The Electoral Commission is examining claims of fraud and irregularities with all postal voting in the wake of the local and European elections earlier this month.

Neil Herron, director of the North-East Against a Regional Assembly, said he was sure the referendum would have to be delayed.

He said: "We very much doubt that the referendum will go ahead as planned because there simply isn't enough time.

"They originally said it would be October but now they are saying October or November, which suggests October is being ruled out."

Andrew Sugden, director of policy for the North-East Chamber of Commerce, said: "I would be very surprised if the experience from the European elections delayed the vote considerably and didn't become an exercise to learn from the mistakes.

"We are four months away at the minimum and it is quite within the bounds of the Electoral Commission to recommend changes and have them implemented in time."

A spokeswoman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said a firm date for the referendum should be known soon, but plans for it to take place in the autumn have not changed.

Referendums are being held in the North-East, Yorkshire and Humberside, and the North-West.