A report published this week by the Boundary Committee suggests one council for the whole of the county except for the Ipswich and Felixstowe area, which would have its own authority. Lowestoft would be switched into Norfolk.

It would mean the more rural parts of Suffolk from Newmarket to the coast being run by a single council, possibly based in Bury St Edmunds.

All Suffolk's district councils are already set to disappear in the shake-up.

The new draft proposals have been criticised by MPs and council leaders from across the county.

Objectors and supporters have 12 weeks to put their opinions forward.

The recommendations go against the views of Suffolk County Council, which has backed the idea of one unitary authority for the whole of the county.

Separate East and West Suffolk councils have also been suggested by authorities, including Babergh District Council.

While not supporting a single Suffolk council, the Boundary Committee did say it saw merit in the idea.

South Suffolk MP Tim Yeo described the committee's proposals as a dog's breakfast.

"I don't think they make any sense at all. I could perhaps see the sense in an East-West split, but a single authority covering the whole of rural Suffolk would be difficult to operate, especially without Ipswich.

"It's a pretty big area, and my concern is that if you live in, say, Clare, you are a long way from other parts of the county."

He was especially critical of the move to include some villages from the east of Babergh district in the new Ipswich-based authority.

"It is complete nonsense and I will fight it in any way I can," he said.

Colin Spence, county councillor for Sudbury East and Waldingfield, said the new plans were a surprise alternative to previous suggestions.

"The more I look at it the more I feel the one Suffolk option was the best," said Mr Spence.

"I think people will not be happy at what is proposed.

"But I was glad to see the committee also identified the one Suffolk idea as a viable option."

Mr Spence said he strongly supported unitary authorities instead of the current two-tier system which left people confused about which council did what.

"The larger an authority is the more focused and economic it is, but you have to be sure democracy is not compromised.

"At the end of the day, no matter what the structure, people want services delivered efficiently and at the least possible cost.

Nick Ridley, chairman of Babergh District Council's strategy committee, said the council was pleased to be moving out of a period of speculation into consultation on specific draft proposals.

"We have previously expressed our own preference for an East-West split, with Ipswich at the heart of a strong East Suffolk unitary.

"A single unitary council for the whole of Suffolk was our second preference.