A MIDDLEWICH pub played host to celebrations last week after David Keane was elected Cheshire’s new Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Boars Head on Kinderton Street drew in campaigners and supporters from across the county after the Labour candidate’s narrow victory over Conservative John Dwyer, who was ousted from the post.

Mr Keane, a councillor in Warrington, selected Middlewich for his post-count celebrations after enjoying a previous Middlewich Matters visit.

Middlewich Town Councillor Mike Hunter said: "David was most insistent that Middlewich be the location, due to his receiving such great support from us during his campaign, both from residents and campaigners.

"Campaigners and supporters from all over Cheshire descended on the pub, and welcomed the successful candidate with cheers and a standing ovation."

Mr Keane won 84,601 votes to John Dwyer’s 81,652 after first and second preferences were declared.

His campaign was based around pledges to deliver real neighbourhood policing, to get officers back on the streets, and to 'deliver a police service residents can be proud of'.

Town Councillor David Williams said: "We have great hope that our new commissioner will reverse some of the decisions made by the previous incumbent, particularly the stationing of our PCSO in Crewe, where we compete for his time against larger towns.

"The fact that celebrating in Middlewich was his first decision bodes well that we will not be forgotten when it comes to competing for that resource in future.”

Mr Keane officially took up his duties today.