Furore over Boundary Commission "failures" to keep the public informed on options for new local authorities erupted as town and parish councils met.

More than 100 councillors from across Cumbria attended what was described as a heated meeting when it came to light leaflets outlining changes had failed to reach most households across the county.

Representatives of the Boundary Commission, which is making recommendations to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott on options for new unitary local authorities, attended the Penrith gathering. They were slammed for keeping people in the dark. Emma Brown, representing the commission, apologised and said private contractors had not delivered the leaflets as required.

The Boundary Commission proposes two alternatives - a single Cumbria-wide authority, or two separate bodies, based on the north and south of the county, including Lancaster City.

Councillors argued that other choices needed to be seriously considered and that it would be unacceptable for the planned referendum in autumn to work in a way that allowed voters in Lancashire to decide the shape of new authorities for Cumbria.

Speaking after the meeting, chairman of the Cumbria Association of Local Councils Adrian Dalton said town and parish councils were right to be concerned at the lack of information getting out to the general public.

"I'm left with the very uncomfortable feeling that it is only the views of the present county and district councils that is going to carry any weight in the final recommendations of the Boundary Committee."

The Boundary Commission said it had contracted leaflet distribution to the Central Office of Information and there was a current investigation to find out why difficulties had arisen.

It added that more than 40,000 information sheets had been "redropped" to the affected areas in Cumbria.