A Middlewich councillor whose two Labour colleagues lost their seats on Cheshire East Council said social media is having a damaging effect on local democracy.

Cllr Carol Bulman was speaking at Friday's count in Crewe after Labour's Mike Hunter and Jonathan Parry lost their Middlewich seats to Independents John Bird and Garnet Marshall.

Mike Hunter (Photo: Cheshire East Council)

Cllr Bulman, who was clearly upset by the loss, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I know that we have tried incredibly hard for Middlewich, all three of us, over the last four very difficult years and that Mike Hunter and Jon Parry have done every bit as much as me.

"I think social media has probably played a big part in this. They've suffered attacks and allegations that are not true.

Cllr Jonathan Parry (Photo: Cheshire East Council)

"The lack of control of social media, I think that has had an impact. And I would like to say I do think that it's affecting our local democracy. It has had a deleterious effect on our local democracy."

She added: "Obviously I will continue to do everything I can to get the best out of Cheshire East for Middlewich in terms of services and improvements."

Labour leader Sam Corcoran described elections as 'brutal affairs' and said he sympathised with all the unsuccessful candidates, 'particularly those who have given good service to Cheshire East and now lost their seats'.

Middlewich will now have two Independent councillors and one Labour on Cheshire East.

The town council election was uncontested because only seven candidates put themselves forward for 12 seats. All of those were Independents.

A full round-up of all the Cheshire East Council results can be found on the website here.