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Merseyside is a [[conurbation]] spanning the estuary of the River [[Mersey]] in north-west [[England]]. Its core is the city of [[Liverpool]], but it also includes [[Birkenhead]] and the [[Wirral]], Bootle, Knowsley, [[St Helens]], and, more arguably, [[Southport]]. In 1974 all these areas were included in a new Metropolitan County of Merseyside; Birkenhead and the Wirral were previously part of [[Cheshire]]; the other places were in [[Lancashire]]. Merseyside County Council was abolished in 1986 but Merseyside remains a county for ceremonial purposes and also for policing, public transport, fire & civil defence and other functions.

Merseyside is a [[conurbation]] spanning the estuary of the River [[Mersey]] in north-west [[England]]. Its core is the city of [[Liverpool]], but it also includes [[Birkenhead]] and the [[Wirral]], Bootle, Knowsley, [[St Helens]], and, more arguably, [[Southport]]. In 1974 all these areas were included in a new Metropolitan County of Merseyside; Birkenhead and the Wirral were previously part of [[Cheshire]]; the other places were in [[Lancashire]]. Merseyside County Council was abolished in 1986 but Merseyside remains a county for ceremonial purposes and also for policing, public transport, fire & civil defence and other functions.