The parish council looked at a number of possible options for the new 'Welcome to Belford' signs, before the final design was approved.

The new signs have now been erected at three entrances to the village.
Coun Chris Rosby said: "This was a committee design by certain members of the parish council and it took about a year to complete the whole project with Department for Transport approval."

The signs have been designed so that when Belford's twinning project goes ahead, additional signage can be placed below.

It is also planned for planters to also be situated at the bottom of the signs.

"We would especially like to thank Steffan Bell, from Northumberland County Council, who helped us push it all through," added Chris.

The signs show the Northumberland Flag and an 18th century coach representing the village's Blue Bell Hotel which was one of the major stops on the coaching route of the old Great North Road.

"We feel very privileged that normally only one symbol is allowed but we have been given a special dispensation to have two because they were so impressed with the design," added Chris.

One of the three signs also forms part of a long term plan to tidy up the corner of the junction of South Road and the bottom of the High Street.

It is proposed that the 30mph limit here will be moved further towards the A1.