AN opinion poll on the planned shake-up of local Government has found almost half of those consulted in Cheshire favour three new separate authorities.

Should people vote in favour of a regional assembly for the North West in this autumn's referendum they will be faced with three options of how they want the county to be run.

These include a single countywide authority or two unitary councils with the county split in half.

The third option is to merge the current six district councils into three unitary authorities - in which case Crewe and Nantwich would be merged with Vale Royal to form a new mid-Cheshire council.

According to the Mori poll some 45% of people in the county favour this third option. It compares to 25% in favour of a single council and 11% in favour of two.

Support for the three-council option is consistent across the districts, with 45% of Crewe and Nantwich in favour, compared with 39% in Chester and 52% in Ellesmere Port and Neston.

Borough council chief executive Alan Wenham said: "This independent research could not be clearer and sends the strongest of signals to the Boundary Committee and the Deputy Prime Minister that the districts are in touch with local people and have accurately reflected their views and priorities."

Reasons cited by all respondents included, 'I would like to see my council cover a small area' (58%), 'It would reflect local people's views' (43%), 'It would reflect local identity' (37%) and 'The council would be more accountable' (31%).

Commenting on the findings council leader Peter Kent said: "This is a welcome statement. Together with all the other Cheshire districts, we have agreed to sink our differences and work out the best available option for really local government.

"I hope that the county council will take heed, respect the views of our people and not mount an expensive campaign at public expense to try to get people to change their minds."

Some 48% of people from across the county said the single authority was their least preferred option.

The Boundary Committee, which commissioned the poll, will submit its final recommendations on May 25.