Hampshire MEP, Roy Perry, has joined the campaign against the Government's proposed regional assemblies.

Responding to the Queen's Speech outlining Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's plan to continue with regional government referendums, Mr Perry said he would be joining thousands in campaigning to keep the county councils and had already received many letters on the subject.

The campaign has been launched with a letter of objection sent to John Prescott.

Mr Perry hopes to recruit an army of supporters prepared to vote against any proposals to replace counties with new tiers of regional government.

"It is not just Hampshire people who support this but also thosefrom Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire," he said.

"People in the South-East do not need any more tiers of government. There is no EU requirement to create regional councils.

"Under the Government's proposals, we would see the establishment of a regional assembly, probably based in Guildford, replacing the existing levels of local government such as our county councils.

"This would sound the death knell for a famous county such as Hampshire."

He said that such an assembly could have up to 35 members with each representing the interests of up to 200,000 people - the equivalent of four constituencies.

"I believe that local housing, transport and planning needs would be totally ignored by such massive centralised assemblies.

"This could well mean that new developments, such as sprawling housing estates on greenfield sites, are far more likely to be imposed against local views," he added.

"I hope that everyone who shares my horror at the prospect of seeing our ancient shires destroyed will join me in writing to the Deputy Prime Minister.

"Together we can make our voice heard."