Devolution campaigners have begun pressing for Yorkshire to be in the first wave of regions holding votes on elected mini-Parliaments.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is assessing the level of interest in England for elected regional assemblies.

He will announce next month which regions he will allow to hold referendums on setting up the assemblies, and while the North-East is almost certain to hold a ballot, calls are becoming louder for Yorkshire to be included.

Jane Thomas, director of the Campaign for Yorkshire, said: ''We have as strong an identity as the North-East or the North-West.

''We think people will understand the case for more decisions affecting Yorkshire being made here, rather than in London, and that they will back our case at the ballot box.''

If backed by voters, a Yorkshire Regional Assembly will have powers in job creation, transport, housing, tourism and culture. These were broadly outlined in a White Paper presented by Mr Prescott to Parliament last year.

Ms Thomas argued by going in the first wave, Yorkshire can press the case to Government for maximum powers.

''The powers of regional assemblies have yet to be finalised so we want a voice in determining what they will be. We want to be setting the agenda not following it.''

If an assembly is set up, county councils will be scrapped. The Conservatives say North Yorkshire could find itself with an assembly it did not vote for but was foisted on it by city voters.

David Curry, Tory MP for Skipton and Ripon, said the Government's plans were mealy mouthed and would not work. Ministers should reveal what powers assemblies will have before any referendum ''so people know what they're voting for".

He said: ''Nobody's come into my surgery and said what a good idea this is and they support it. The views of the people of North Yorkshire will be bulldozed by voters in Rotherham, Leeds and Sheffield and we want to stop that happening."