Nine people were officially made British citizens in a ceremony at the Macclesfield town hall.

They were among 25 people from across the borough who swore an oath and allegiance to the Queen and received certificates confirming their status as British nationals.

It was the end of a long, hard process for the new citizens, who had to sit exams on British life and many had to learn English as an new language. They have come from as far afield as Bangladesh, Botswana, Morocco, Iraq and Russia to settle in Cheshire.

They were congratulated by dignitaries including the Mayor of Cheshire East Roger West, CEC Leader Wesley Fitzgerald, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, Rachael Bailey, John Kelly, head of nationality at the Home Office and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, Joelle Warren.

Mayor West told the new British nationals: “I know I am biased, but Cheshire is an outstanding area. I hope by becoming citizens you will continue to make valuable contributions to the community”

Soloman Varghese, 44, became a citizen along with his wife Sebastian and children Blessy, 10, Biatrics, three and Benjamin, six months.

The family, of Kennedy Avenue, Macclesfield, moved to England from Kerala, India in 2005 when Sebastian began working as a nurse for a private healthcare firm.

He said: “We feel very British already. We got to have tea with the Queen when Blessy won a Blue Peter competition last month. We got to speak to her face-to-face so will be very happy to swear allegiance to her today.”

Emilie Hasrouty, 34, is originally from Lebanon and moved to England after meeting her husband Nagah, from Macclesfield, in Paris and. She now lives on Pickenham Close.

“I love life in the UK,” she said. “And I love every bit of Cheshire – especially the cheeses as we used to love the cheese in France.

“We have a lot of friends stay with us and they know all about Cheshire now as well.” Olha Lyekar, 45, her husband Valeriy and daughter Svitlana, 13, of Buckley Street, Macclesfield, came to England six years ago from the Ukraine.

She said: “We came to look for work and a better life. We were thinking about our children’s future. We will now get the chance to travel freely.”

The ceremony concluded with the national anthem played students from All Hallows Catholic college.