A new independent group has uprooted all nine Conservative councillors from Alderley Edge Parish Council.

Members of the village community got together to challenge the Conservative leadership and create a more resident-friendly council.

The council has been run by the Tories for many years but the group – AlderleyEdgeFIRST – believed the village would be better served by independents.

They launched a campaign to take all nine seats from the Conservatives, signing up candidates and promoting their message around the village and on social media.

And the effort paid off. AlderleyEdgeFIRST candidates won all nine seats in the parish elections at the weekend.

The new councillors are Craig Browne, Mike Dudley-Jones, Myles Garbett, Rachael Grantham, Geoff Hall, Ilana Higham, Christine Munro, Ruth Norbury and Michael Taylorson.

Mike Dudley-Jones said: “AlderleyEdgeFIRST would like to thank everyone who has voted for us and who have supported us.

“It has been a wonderful and rewarding experience. A speedy journey, indeed, but one that we all clearly needed to take.”

The group’s priorities include completing the new medical centre at Festival Hall, refurbishment at the hall, tackling parking problems and creating better facilities for younger residents.

Mr Dudley-Jones said: “None of what lies ahead for us can be achieved without the wonderful support we have had so far and we hope will remain in position for us in the future.

“We promise to reflect our gratitude for this with a new style of Parish Council where we share all of our thoughts with you – and attempt to marry them to all of your hopes.”

There was another shock in the Cheshire East council election too, when Craig Browne from AlderleyEdgeFIRST won 1,500 votes to take the seat from veteran Conservative councillor Frank Keegan in the Alderley Edge ward, who had 958 votes.

There was success for the independents in Wilmslow too, when Residents of Wilmslow candidate Toni Fox took the seat in the Dean Row ward on Cheshire East council, with 1,189 votes compared to Conservative Paul Whiteley’s 1,139 votes. Residents of Wilmslow’s David Jefferay won back his seat in the Wilmslow East ward on Wilmslow Town Council, but missed out on a seat on Cheshire East.