THE General Synod of the Church of England will be asked to approve plans to axe three dioceses - creating a new "super diocese" in their place.

Members of the Church's national assembly will be invited to approve a draft scheme to dissolve the three existing dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds as well as Wakefield.

The dioceses would be replaced by a single new diocese of Leeds, with a working name of West Yorkshire and the Dales.

Under the scheme, there will be a new bishop, the Bishop of Leeds, with two new suffragan, or area bishops of Bradford and Huddersfield created.

The three existing cathedrals of Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield would remain cathedrals with Leeds parish church, known as Leeds Minster, made a "pro-cathedral".

All the diocesan synods affected by the scheme have given their consent to the reorganisation apart from Wakefield.

The Dioceses Commission, which drew up the scheme, said the "overwhelming response" to the proposals had been to back a new single diocese.

The commission said: "The existing dioceses are not failing, but a stronger, more resilient base is needed if the Church is to be equipped to face the big issues which will confront it over coming decades."

The scheme will be debated on Monday July 8 at York University by the General Synod. The earliest possible date for the new diocese to come into effect is January 1 next year.