POLITICIANS in Eden have reacted angrily to the Boundary Committee's final proposals for the local government shake-up in Cumbria in the event of a "yes" vote on regional devolution.

People in the Eden Valley are to be asked in an autumn referendum whether they want to see elected assembly for the for the North West region. At the same time they will be asked what sort of local council system should replace the current two-tier county and district structure if regional government goes ahead.

But the Government's Boundary Committee, tasked with drawing up the options for change, has gone against the wishes of Eden District Council and all but one of Cumbria's six districts.

The referendum choice will be between a single powerful council for the whole of Cumbria, and a two-way split in which Eden, Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland join forces to form a North Cumbria authority while South Lakeland, Barrow and Lancaster city form a Morecambe Bay authority.

Only Barrow and Lancaster favoured this option. All other Cumbrian councils wanted an option for three unitary authorities - Eden/Carlisle, Allerdale/Copeland and South Lakeland/Barrow.

A joint statement released by the leaders of Eden, South Lakeland, Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland councils stated: "We are extremely disappointed an urgent meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister to put our arguments." They are also taking legal advice on how to challenge the committee's unsatisfactory proposals.

Penrith and the Border MP David Maclean said: "The Boundary Committee has come to Cumbria and obeyed John Prescott's instructions to carve up Cumbria to suit his regional government dreams. District councils, which are closer to the people, will be. If we want to keep local government close to the people then we have to vote against the regional assembly."