CONSERVATIVE candidate John Dwyer has taken back Cheshire's police and crime commissioner role.

Mr Dwyer, who held the post between 2012 and 2016, beat Labour rival David Keane by 12,499 votes when the poll was declared at the DCBL stadium in Widnes last night (Saturday).

He collected 111,962 votes compared to Mr Keane's 99,463 votes after first and second preferences were declared.

After the first preference count only, Mr Dwyer was in front on 99,565 votes, followed by Mr Keane 83,329 votes, Jo Conchie (Lib Democrat) with 32,348 votes and Nick Goulding (Reform) with 8,258 votes.

Turn-out was up across Cheshire at 27 per cent compared to 23.85 per cent in 2016.

The role of the police and crime commissioner is to hold the chief constable to account on behalf of Cheshire residents, set the police budget and commission services for victims of crime.

Mr Dwyer is a retired assistant chief constable in Cheshire and enjoyed a 30-year career with the force which started in Nottinghamshire, followed by a transfer to the West Midlands as a chief inspector and finally to Cheshire.

After the results Mr Dwyer, who will take up the post on May 13, announced, he said: "I am delighted to have been returned as the PCC for Cheshire and I want to thank the voters for supporting me."

Cheshire Police Chief Constable Mark Roberts said: "I know John from when he previously held this role and now look forward to working with him again to ensure we continue to prevent crime, support victims and protect vulnerable people across Cheshire.

"We will work together on a police and crime plan which deals with the issues that most affect our communities and ensures Cheshire is a safe place for the public and a bad place to be a criminal."

The PCC election was one of three polling in Crewe last Thursday. Declarations for the Crewe West by-election for a councillor seat on Cheshire East Council and the West ward of Crewe Town Council are expected to be made later today (Sunday).