The balance of power on Cheshire West and Chester Council has been tipped against Labour, after one of its councillors quit for health reasons.

It means Labour's councillors are now outnumbered by various opposition parties and independents.

And while Labour still continues to rule as a minority administration, the maths means it can no longer force through its agenda if other councillors choose to oppose it as a united front.

The situation arose after Gareth Gould decided to step down on health grounds, leaving a vacancy in the Strawberry ward in Ellesmere Port.

Labour had been the largest group on the council but in June two of its number quit the party, Jimmy Shannon and Elizabeth MacGlashan.

This left the Labour group with 35 councillors out of 70, with all other groups and independents also at 35, which means if all non-Labour councillors voted together it could result in a deadlocked vote.

But the resignation of Gareth Gould tips that precarious balance against Labour, meaning its plans could be voted down at council meetings.

That scenario remains unlikely given the broad spectrum of political differences on the council, with Greens, a Lib Dem, Reform, Conservatives, an independent group and non-aligned independents sitting in the chamber.

Commenting on the resignation, a spokesman for the Cheshire West Labour group said: "We thank Gareth for his service and dedication to Ellesmere Port.

"Gareth resigned due to ongoing health issues, but has been a knowledgeable and hard-working councillor throughout, and an asset to his residents and the Labour group.

"We wish him all the best for the future."

A by-election to choose his replacement is pencilled in for Thursday, October 2.

The spokesman added: "Cheshire West Labour councillors will be campaigning in the upcoming by-election in support of Kris Fisher, the Labour Party candidate.

"Kris will make an excellent councillor, and we hope he joins our group to deliver our positive agenda for residents."

The current political makeup of the council is now Labour (34), Conservative (22), Green (two), independent (two), Reform UK (two), Liberal Democrat (one), unaligned independent (six), and one vacancy.