A LARGE number of former Cheshire county councillors have been made honorary aldermen.

In one of the county’s final acts before it was replaced by a new unitary authority on April 1, the 23 councillors were each given the title in recognition of their eminent contributions as elected representatives.

They all received their framed honorary alderman scroll from former county chairman Steve Wilkinson, watched by the old council’s chief executive, Jeremy Taylor.

Among those honoured were three representing wards in Chester, Ellesmere Port and Vale Royal: Andrew Needham (Eddisbury), Lynn Hardwick (Ledsham & Willaston) and Derek Bateman (Central & Westminster).