Last week's election result saw Matthew Davies, Harold Davenport and Diana Thompson all voted onto the new unitary authority.

Cllr Davies led the way with 2,410 votes, ahead of Cllr Davenport (2,394) and Cllr Thompson (2,219).

Cheshire East Council will take over all local government services in the boroughs of Macclesfield, Congleton and Crewe and Nantwich from April 1 next year.

Cllr Thompson said: "It is a privilege to be one of the first representatives on this new authority, but it is also a challenge because we are stepping into the unknown. There will be a lot of things to do."

Other polled votes were: S Roberts, Liberal Democrat, 1,868; S Sockett, Liberal Democrat, 1,379; C Makepeace, Liberal Democrat, 1,129; H Reid, Independent, 1,056; D Laffan, Labour, 836; A Jackson-Baker, Labour, 567; G Sutton, Labour, 484.

Overall, the Conservatives won 59 of the 81 Cheshire East seats available. The Liberal Democrats won 12, followed by Labour, 6, Middlewich First, 3, and Nantwich Independent, 1.

These 81 councillors, across 27 unitary wards, will now form a Shadow Council to oversee the transition.