Everton's plans to relocate to Kirkby have received the backing of the council that will house the club's prospective new stadium.

Knowsley councillors voted 20-1 in favour of the proposals which will see a new 50,000-capacity stadium and a Tesco superstore and other high street shops spring up in a £400 million development.

Liverpool, Sefton and West Lancashire councils have all officially opposed the controversial plans and Toffees chief executive Keith Wyness is now hoping that the government will not ask for an inquiry.

"We are absolutely delighted with the outcome, and I think the fact the vote was in no way close - 20-to-1 - shows that the Knowsley Borough councillors are ready to embrace the regeneration of the Kirkby area," Wyness told the club's official website. "The next big step comes in the form of trying to ensure the project is not 'called-in' for inquiry from the government.

"Hopefully, they will look at this decisive result and accept that the future of this project should be decided at a local rather than a national level."