Cheshire will be looked after by two councils from April 2009

A government order to create two all-purpose unitary authorities for the east and west of the county was passed by 83 votes to 72 - a majority of 11

It followed two hours of debate during which peers criticised MPs for failing to take into account the lack of support within the county.

The new councils will be elected in May before taking responsibility in 2009.

The Cheshire Structural Changes Order was approved by MPs in a Commons vote last week.

But it faced criticism in the upper chamber from Peers who claimed there was no support for the changes by the people who live in Cheshire.

It is a long-term, historic county, to which those in it have a great deal of loyalty Lord Wade of Chorlton

Labour Peer Baroness Andrews, who led the debate, said the government was aware that the change - like other reorganisations - might prove unpopular.

But she said that advisors concluded that the changes could deliver ongoing savings of about �16m a year.

"It has been a difficult decision, but nevertheless it is a decision which we believe provides the right governance for the people of Cheshire moving forward," she said.

Opposition to the bill was led by Lord Wade of Chorlton, whose amendment was an attempt to stall the changes pending a full consultation with Cheshire residents.

County axe

He said: "An organisation to which all the people in Cheshire look as their central body [Cheshire County Council] will be destroyed and split into two.

"It is a long-term, historic county, to which those in it have a great deal of loyalty."

Under the changes, the axe will fall on the top tier county council, the existing city authority and the five borough councils.

Chester, Vale Royal and Ellesmere Port and Neston councils will disappear and be replaced by City of Chester and Cheshire West.