CONSERVATIVE threats to ignore the result of this autumn's referendum on regional assemblies have been denounced by pro-devolution groups.

Professor John Tomaney, lead-er of the campaign for a North-East assembly, said Tory party leader Michael Howard would be "morally bound" to implement a "yes" vote if he became Prime Minister next year.

Mr Howard has been reported as saying that if his party got into power it would reserve the right not to fulfill a narrow vote in favour of directly-elected regional assemblies.

"We wouldn't necessarily regard ourselves as being bound by that kind of majority," he said.

Prof Tomaney, director of the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies at Newcastle University, said: "It is extremely worrying.

"If you have a referendum and the people of the North-East, or any other region, vote in favour then a Government of any hue is honour-bound to accept the result of that. I hope this is not Mr Howard and the Tories throwing in the towel and saying 'We expect a yes vote, but if we become the Government we will ignore it'. I don't think it is a very credible position."

Don Price, of the Campaign for the English Regions, which is based in the North-East, said: "I think any Government will face a major problem if they ignore the decision of the public in a properly convened referendum.

"There is going to be a referendum and we will abide by the outcome of that. We would expect any democratic politician or party to do the same."

In October, the three Northern regions, the North-East, Yorkshire and the North-West, will vote on whether they want their own mini-parliament.

But British governments are not bound by law to act on the result.

Neil Herron, campaign director for North-East Against a Regional Assembly, said: "If the turnout is derisory it should be ignored by any government. But there is no chance of a 'yes' vote being achieved here anyway. If you do a straw poll on the street, people are not interested.

"The Conservatives obviously realise that a regional assembly will do nothing for this region."

Regional Government Minister Nick Raynsford told an audience in Northumberland last week that a North-East mini-parliament would have control over £350m worth of direct spending and influence over a further £700m.