A LIBERAL Democrat politician says he felt ‘very nostalgic’ after leaving the council.

Cllr Bob Barr – who had been a borough councillor for 18 years and a parish councillor for 22 years – did not stand in the all-out elections.

The Liberal Democrats are now the official opposition group on the borough council.

Speaking after the borough council election results were declared on Saturday, Mr Barr said: “It’s been one of our best results, since the heady days of 2006 to 2011 when we were running the council, and then we had a lot of help from an unpopular Labour Government.

“This one is based entirely on hard work, community politics, and keeping in touch with local people, through Focus (Liberal Democrat leaflet) and through yourselves.”

Mr Barr also says he will miss politics ‘enormously’.

He added: “I feel very nostalgic today, it’s been part of my life – parish council and borough council – for quarter of a century and before that I was already very interested in politics.

“But I’m not disappearing, I will be in touch with my local party, I’ll be helping them in whatever way I can, if they want advice I’ll provide it, if they don’t want it I won’t, but I think it’s the right time to retire.”

Labour retained control of the council and increased its majority by six.

Warrington North Labour MP Charlotte Nichols said: “It’s been an absolutely fantastic day for the party, well ahead of what our expectations were going into the local elections, so I am absolutely delighted.

“I think it shows that we’re making progress in all the areas that we need to be making progress in, particularly in terms of the three seats that we’ve won in Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft.

“They are exactly the kind of areas that we would want to be making progress in ahead of a general election campaign and it’s clear that everything is headed in the right direction, so it’s very, very positive.”

On when a general election could be called, she said: “The sooner the better, from my point of view, and I think that’s the clear message I’m getting on the doorstep.

“It’s the number one question I’m asked by people when out door-knocking.”