CREWE'S war memorial looks to have finally found a new home as months of dispute were brought to an end last week.

A Citizens' Panel voted two to one to relocate the Britannia statue in the new Municipal Square, rather than return it to its historical home.

Council leader Brian Silvester (Con) said: "The Conservative Group promised that they would consult the people over the issue if they won the election in May and that is what we have done.

"We have kept our promise to the people."

Deputy leader Margaret Simon (Con) added: "I am pleased that the running sore of the location of the memorial is finally coming to an end.

"If the previous administration had done a proper consultation in the first place then this further consultation would not have been necessary".

Some 565 people (65%) voted to relocate the memorial, against 225 people (26%) who voted to return it to Market Square. Around 64% of people responded to the consultation.

Nantwich Independent councillor Bill McGinnis added: "The Board recognises that moving the war memorial has been a controversial and deeply touching issue for many of our residents.

"We recognise and sympathise with the feelings of the Memorial Action Team and their supporters but, having carried out the formal representative consultation, which the former administration failed to do, it is clear that there is a substantial majority in favour of relocation."

The decision should mean that Britannia will now be in place in time for Remembrance Day.

Labour group leader Steve Hogben said: "I am delighted to see that the Citizens' Panel has endorsed the view of the previous administration.

"At the end of the day, the decision to stop the relocation of the War Memorial was just a political point-scoring exercise.

"These results are deeply embarrassing for the Tory-led administration.

"The new square is ready to welcome the War Memorial to a dignified and reverential home.

"We all want see Britannia in place for Remembrance Sunday, so that we can pay our respects to those courageous men and women who sacrificed their lives to secure our freedom."

Former council leader Peter Kent added: "This result entirely vindicates the decisions that the council took, and re-affirmed on several occasions, despite a sick Tory campaign to make it a political bandwagon.

"I don't always go along with the idea that there is a silent majority, but on this occasion it's clear that it exists."

l The council board is expected to confirm the decision at a meeting on Wednesday next week.