The number of Copeland councillors will be slashed by 18, it has been confirmed.

Ward boundaries will be altered and councillor numbers reduced from 51 to 33 after no House made any objections to recommendations put before Parliament.

The changes, which were guaranteed earlier this month, come into force at the council elections in 2019.

Copeland Council will be made up of six three-councillor, four two-councillor and seven one-councillor wards.

Mayor Mike Starkie said: “I am delighted that the review of Copeland’s governance has been formally completed, and the recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England will stand.

“I have always said Copeland – and the county as a whole - are over-governed. The decision that Copeland Council will have 33 councillors from May will therefore create a more streamlined and fit-for-purpose council moving forward.

“Copeland has lead the way in terms of much-needed local government reform, and I believe this now needs to be replicated right across Cumbria.”

The alterations follow public consultation on the boundary commission's proposals.

Due to the review, the boundaries of all but one of Copeland's current wards will change.

In response to feedback during consultation, the commission made changes to the initial proposals.

The parish of Arlecdon and Frizington will no longer be divided between wards and will be included in the Arlecdon and Ennerdale ward.

In the west of the borough, changes have been made to ensure the whole of the Cleator Moor parish is included in a single ward after local people objected to original plans to divide it between two wards.

The commission had proposed separate Gosforth and Seascale wards but now a Gosforth and Seascale ward will be represented by two councillors.

Drigg and Carleton parish will also not be split between two wards.

And, after listening to local views, the proposed Rosebank ward will be renamed as Sneakyeat ward.