DISTRICT councillors have told the Government there is little interest in a referendum on whether to establish a regional assembly.

Following consultation with residents, businesses and parish councils, Hambleton District Council said there was little awareness of what a Yorkshire and Humber assembly would involve and little interest in one.

The leader of the council, June Imeson, said: "We have done a great deal of work over the past few weeks to gauge public opinion.

"We wanted to not only find out if a referendum is wanted, but what people know about the regional assembly concept and what their voting intentions would be.

"What we have discovered is not a surprise.

"This issue has not caught the public's imagination, interest is low and support for the project fragile."

The consultation, which was also carried out by North Yorkshire County Council, showed there was less support for a regional assembly in Hambleton than in other areas of the county.

The council agreed to inform the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, that a referendum is unwanted by people in the area.