The victory caused a ‘painful’ political headache for the Tories, who, after a bad election in 2018, this year lost two seats to the Lib Dems – one in Timperley, the other in Village – and one to the Greens in Altrincham, as well as six to Labour.

Tory councillor Sean Anstee, who had run the town hall until last May, admitted the results were not good for his party.

“It was a very painful night overall,” he said.

 “Not just for the party as a whole, but for those dedicated and hardworking councillors who have served the community for a number of years, but lost out tonight.

“I don’t think they deserved that.”