Eight Allerdale councillors could lose their seats under proposals they have put forward to transform the authority.

If approved, the number of councillors elected to the authority will reduce from 56 to 48.

A review of the council's size has been called following changes to the make-up of the borough.

The council currently has an average of 1,300 eligible voters per ward councillor.

Almost a third of wards have between 10 and 19 per cent fewer or more electors.

They include Moss Bay in Workington at -19 per cent, Broughton St Bridget's at 18 per cent, Christ Church in Cockermouth at 16 per cent, Netherhall in Maryport at -15 per cent.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is conducting the review to ensure fairer representation for electors.

If approved, the changes would see an average of 1,550 electors per councillor, a figure below the current average for Copeland.

Barbara Cannon, executive member responsible for corporate resources, said new technology made communication between the public and councillors easier, which would help accommodate the extra numbers.

While almost all councillors were in agreement with the proposed reduction in members, some warned that the rural nature of Allerdale must be considered when dividing up the wards and seats to ensure the areas created were not too vast to be practical.

A cross-party group drew up the proposed changes, with three of the council's four political groups independently reaching the same figure.

The proposed changes could save the council more than £24,500 as it would no longer need to pay the £3,066 allowance to eight councillors.

Council leader Alan Smith said: "This is not due to financial incentives. We have had the review imposed on us because the ratio of electors to number of councillors is too high or low in too many of our wards."

A report considered by councillors said: "The review is an opportunity for the council to shape our council for the future.

"The review will help the council decide how we will represent communities in the future.

"The commission has made that commitment that they will aim to build electoral wards that reflect communities and lock in electoral fairness for future elections, wherever possible not breaking up parish boundaries."

It is intended that any changes will be brought in in time for the next elections in 2019.

Councillors voted in favour of the move, with one abstention.