John Prescott has urged Bradford businesses to get behind plans for an elected assembly for Yorkshire.

The Deputy Prime Minister addressed an audience of business people on the latest of his roadshows around the north yesterday.

Many had indicated their scepticism about the plans before the event with a survey of Bradford Chamber of Commerce members delivering a strong 'no' vote.

Mr Prescott insisted, however, that change needed to be implemented to address the economic imbalance between north and south.

"A lot of the inequalities are due to the fact that we don't have sufficient influence on the decisions that affect our region," he said.

"Unless things change, the south east will continue to run ahead."

He also said the north would be £35 billion better off if its economy was performing in line with the national average.

Mr Prescott is attempting to rally support for the 'yes' campaign and shared the platform at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds with Jane Thomas of the Campaign for Yorkshire.

She said an elected Yorkshire assembly was a "great opportunity for the business community", highlighting Bradford's poor rail links as evidence the region was missing out on vital investment.

Suzanne Hart, of the Yorkshire Says No group, dismissed Mr Prescott's claims, however, and said more information was needed about the costs and powers of the proposed assembly.

"Mr Prescott wants to make us buy into a regional assembly before telling us what it is," she said.

Steve Archbold, deputy president of the British Chambers of Commerce, agreed the business community "still needed to be convinced" about the benefits of an elected assembly. He branded the proposed assembly a "potentially expensive white elephant".

Mr Prescott admitted it was hard to tell what the cost of the assembly would be and said he welcomed the comments from businesses as details of the planned assembly were drawn-up.

Roland Clark, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said some of the concerns of chamber members had been addressed by Mr Prescott, but added: "For the most part though, there are inadequate details on how or when they will be tackled."