A POLL today suggests the North-East will get its elected assembly, but the government faces a tough fight to persuade voters in Yorkshire and Humberside.

The survey found that 48 per cent of North-East voters support the idea of a "mini-parliament", with 39 per cent against the proposal.

But in Yorkshire and Humberside opinion was almost evenly split, with 39 per cent against, 35 per cent in favour and 26 per cent undecided.

And the proportion in favour slumped to just 19 per cent - with 55 per cent against - when voters were presented with arguments for and against setting up the assembly.

Support also fell in the North-East after those arguments were raised but less dramatically, to 34 per cent with 47 per cent opposed.

The Tories seized on the results as evidence that voters, when given more information about the proposal, turned against the idea of elected regional bodies.

Bernard Jenkin, regional government spokesman, said: "Is this why the government is giving out so few real facts about its proposals? Why won't ministers give clear answers?"

But a government spokeswoman pointed out the vote was not until October and insisted ministers planned to step up its information campaign.

She said: "We are not on top of the referendum at the moment and we are aware that a lot of work is needed to engage people and get them talking about this issue. The poll - carried out by YouGov for the Conservatives, who oppose regional assemblies - quizzed 441 people in the North East and 478 in Yorkshire and Humberside.

It also revealed that people in Yorkshire and Humberside were less attached to their region than to their county, city, town or neighbourhood. However, in the North-East, people identified more with their region.

The assemblies, to be set up no earlier than 2006, would enjoy powers to raise money through council tax and borrowing.

Before that, the Boundary Commission must make recommendations expected to lead to the abolition of county councils, such as Durham, North Yorkshire and Northumbria.

* Paul Briggs has been elected as vice-chairman of the North East Assembly. Mr Briggs has represented the business sector on the assembly's economic and social partners group for the past three years. A governor of Durham Johnson Comprehensive School he succeeds Gill Hale, regional secretary of public sector union, Unison. He joins the other assembly vice-chairman, Derwentside District Council leader Alex Watson, who was elected to the role in June last year.