The Electoral Commission has set out details of how it plans to implement a cut in the number of British MEPs.

Following a review in the wake of EU enlargement, the UK will send 78 MEPs to Brussels in next June's European elections.

Under terms set out in the European Parliament (Representation) Act 2003, the commission is responsible for advising the lord chancellor about which regions should see their representation reduced.

It must ensure that the ratio between the number of MEPs and electors is broadly the same across the country - with no area having fewer than three representatives in the parliament.

Numbers in the East Midlands, the South West and Northern Ireland will remain unchanged, the watchdog recommended.

But one MEP will be cut from each of the Eastern region, London, the North East, the North West, the South East, the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, Wales and Scotland.

The nine-strong reduction will lead to a fresh round of horse-trading between rival candidates elected under the PR list system for next June's European parliament.