A NEW young generation will be sweeping into the Town Hall following Thursday’s elections.

The five Labour candidates who took seats from the opposition are all aged under 35 – a new breed for Warrington Borough Council.

David Keane, aged 32, Hitesh Patel, aged 35, Kelly Simcock, aged 31, Lottie Ladbury, aged 35 and Natalie Smith, aged 23, all enjoyed victories on Thursday night.

Clr Keane, who lost his seat in 2004, has been on Penketh Parish Council since and won the Penketh and Cuerdley seat from the Tories.

He says he was very pleased to win.

He added: “In any organisation it is essential that people represent all areas of society and that is what we have.

“I value the experience of the current councillors and colleagues who have been in politics for a long time.”

Clr Simcock works at the Peace Centre and won the Orford seat after Terry Whelan stood down.

She said: “I am pleased so many young people are coming on.

“For me Orford Park is going to be a big priority. This needs to be a project which works for and serves the community in Orford.”

Clr Ladbury was heavily involved in the campaign to save Woolston High School. The trainee nurse won in Poulton South, unseating new Lib Dem candidate Dave Eccles.

She said: “I was really delighted and surprised. Parents and grandparents are still affected by the loss of such a service and the closure of Longbarn was also a problem.”

Clr Smith won in Westbrook and Clr Patel in Great Sankey South.

Other new councillors are Clr Russ Bowden (LAB – Birchwood) and Clr Tony Higgins and Clr Peter Carey (both LAB – Fairfield and Howley).