the region will decide on an assembly next year

The council's submission to the Boundary Commission supports only one option for the future - Chorley becoming a unitary authority on its own.

The option, which is to be submitted on Monday, would only be considered if people voted yes in a referendum.

Earlier, the authority had indicated it may submit a second option of a merger with South Ribble and Preston, but that was thrown out after councillors felt it did not reflect the feeling of people in the community.

Council leader, John Wilson, said the council hoped the single option would be included on the ballot paper next year as a feasible and highly desirable outcome for the borough.

He admitted that the indications were the Commission might not look favourably on the idea of Chorley becoming a unitary authority on its own, because of its size, but the council had agreed that was the option they had to go for.

Abolition plan

On Thursday, Lancashire County Council said the county's 12 district council should be abolished and a single council for the whole area should be created.

It has come up with the plan because the government has decided there can be only one tier of local government if people vote for a regional assembly next year.

Many of the district councils are expected to oppose the plan.