(in England) each of six units of local government centred on a large urban area (in existence since 1974, although their councils were abolished in 1986).
Ian, who worked in a family printing and stationery business, had teamed up with local historian Peter to record life in Eccles before it became part of a metropolitan county.
This established a two-tier system of thirty-nine counties and six metropolitan counties for the major conurbations outside London.
The motion calls for the re-regulation of buses in metropolitan counties like Greater Manchester.
These soon moved to the museum, which after the abolition of the metropolitan county in 1986, became part of the existing NML.