PEOPLE in Yorkshire have got an extra chance to have their say on how the region is governed.

The Government has extended its "soundings'' consultation exercise on a referendum about directly-elected regional government until May 16.

The Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, the region's strategic partnership which has been leading the debate locally, is now hoping this extension will encourage more people to put forward their views.

As part of its work, the assembly is holding an information meeting at Northallerton town hall from 5.30pm to 7pm on May 15 for people to find out more about the issues involved.

Assembly chairman Peter Box said: "While the assembly already supports a referendum, which we believe would give the public the right to choose if they want elected regional government, this extension allows even more people to respond and have their say.''

The extension to the soundings period was introduced in the light of amendments to the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill, which give voters in two-tier local authority areas a say about the form of local government they want should a directly-elected regional "Parliament'' be established.

Originally, the closing date for comments was March 3.

Updated: 11:02 Tuesday, May 06, 2003