Voters in Widnes and Runcorn head to the polls in a few weeks, but for the first time in decades will not be voting for the same parliamentary candidates.

A general election takes place on July 4 but boundary changes mean the constituency of Halton is being scrapped - with both towns voting for different candidates to represent them as MPs in the House of Commons.

The move follows a shake-up of national boundaries which has seen some constituencies merged and others torn up altogether. The purpose of the changes was to ensure an equal number of voters in each constituency, with the previous electoral map having existed since 2010.

The changes only relate to parliamentary elections and which MP represents each area. Halton will continue to be a unified borough under one council and all council wards will remains the same.

But it marks the end of an era for the parliamentary constituency of Halton which has existed since 1984.

Under the new boundaries, East Runcorn is withdrawn from Weaver Vale - which is also being scrapped. It will instead be reunited with the rest of Runcorn for the new constituency of Runcorn and Helsby. The new constituency will also include Frodsham and the village of Elton, which was part of the now-scrapped Ellesmere Port and Neston.

The Runcorn and Helsby constituency has an electorate of 70,451.

To the north of the river, Widnes will become part of the new Widnes and Halewood constituency. In addition to the whole of the town of Widnes, it will also take in Halewood from the now defunct Garston and Halewood constituency, as well as the majority of the Whiston and Cronton ward - excluding the town centre of Whiston - from the St Helens South and Whiston constituency.

Widnes and Halewood has an electorate of 70,355.

The number of seats in the House of Commons will remain the same, after previous plans to reduce the number of seats from 650 to 600 were abandoned in 2020.  England will gain 10 seats, Scotland will lose two, Wales will lose eight, and the number of Northern Irish seats will remain the same.

Prospective candidates have until 4pm next Friday (June 7) to register to stand.