The first major steps towards a controversial Yorkshire parliament could be taken next month, following the second widescale public consultation carried out by the office of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

About 6,000 representations have been made about elected regional parliaments - and about a tenth are understood to be from Yorkshire.

The representations are understood to be from members of the public as well as official organisations.

They will lead to a decision about where referendums should be held to show whether people want their own parliaments.

The North East is widely expected to be the first testing ground with a history-making referendum. But Jane Thomas, co-ordinator of Campaign for Yorkshire, said they were pressing to include Yorkshire as a major region.

Miss Thomas said: "We feel it would simply be regarded as a Geordie experiment if it was simply the North East.

She said the Campaign for Yorkshire had received widespread support. "It is very strongly our view that people should be able to choose their own future."

Chris Leslie, who stressed he was speaking as Shipley MP, said: "My personal view is that there is a very strong case for Yorkshire and Humber.

"It will devolve power from Whitehall and handle billions and billions of budgets. The Bingley Relief Road could have had high regional priority instead of having to wait for it for decades."

From Friday there will be full evaluation of the views of the public before an announcement by Mr Prescott of conclusions on a referendum. Mr Leslie, as minister for local government and the regions, will be involved in the decision - but not in his role as Shipley MP.

But Bradford Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said: "I am against a Yorkshire parliament because I believe it would be a layer of very costly bureaucracy. I feel the powers of local authorities should be strengthened instead."

The Council's Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood who supports regional government said people across the district should have a right to say.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, Liberal Democrat group leader, said people should have a say but the danger was that the system would be ineffective and expensive.