NINE out of ten people know little or nothing about the issues surrounding this October's referendum on elected regional assemblies, according to new research.

North Yorkshire county councillors say they are very worried by the figures, which were produced by market research company Mori.

They also found that more than 50 per cent of people in North Yorkshire have never even heard of the referendum.

If there is a yes vote in October, there will be a shake-up of local government in the county.

A series of options for the re-organisation have been put forward by the Boundary Committee, including creating a single unitary authority to cover the whole county - a move supported by the county council, which says the research indicates there could be problems ahead.

Council leader John Weighell said: "This is very worrying. People need to have some understanding of the issues they are being asked to decide on or the results could undermine the high quality of local services.

"They will be asked whether they want one or more all-purpose councils to replace the county and districts.

"Our research shows that anything other than a single council for the whole of the county would cost up to £21m a year more and put at risk the very services people depend upon.

"Our education service has just achieved an 'excellent' rating at Ofsted and people need to know that services such as this would be put at risk if the county was divided up."

The county's district council's believe the best option would be to create three unitary authorities.

But, according to the county council, 53 per cent of the letters received by the Boundary Committee, as part of its consultation, support the idea of a single all-purpose authority.

Coun Weighell said: "Whatever way people end up voting, it would be a nonsense if the outcome was determined by people who knew little or nothing about the issues.

"Research clearly shows that the more people understand the issues, the more they support a large, all-purpose council.

"We will be doing all we can to make sure we have a properly informed vote in October."