A MARKET town may be moved to a new council area if local government changes are given the go-ahead.

Under the proposals, Masham may lose its links with the Harrogate district.

District councils have put forward recommendations to the Boundary Commission for three new unitary authorities to be created in North Yorkshire.

The Hambleton council area would join Richmondshire, Scarborough would join Ryedale, and Craven would join Harrogate.

The idea has put into question the issue of Masham's future because it is the most northerly area of the Harrogate district.

One possibility being considered is for Masham to leave Harrogate and join a combined Hambleton and Richmondshire council area.

A report by North Yorkshire district councils acknowledged that Masham and its immediate area, which have a population of 2,384, already looks north for many of its services, including education and leisure.

Councillor Nigel Simms, who represents the Masham area on Harrogate Borough Council, said he was consulting fellow councillors and residents in the area about the possibility of a boundary change.

The councillor, who believes there could be a split of views, said: "With all this in the air, I must listen to what the local parish councils and public have to say."

All the changes hinge on whether or not residents vote in favour of an elected regional assembly for Yorkshire and the Humber in next year's referendum.

North Yorkshire County Council, which takes up 85 per cent of council spending, has already voted to campaign to become a single unitary authority for the whole county.

But Councillor Arthur Barker, leader of Hambleton District Council, said the authority could not support this option.

He said: "It would be simply too remote and too big when it comes to delivering essential local services.

"People would find it hard to relate to a local council of such a large size.

"We believe our option for a three way split is the way forward and hope the Boundary Commission will take those views on board."

The commission is due to make its recommendations at the end of the year.