Visitors to Malpas during the Christmas period will now be welcomed by brand new signs.

The signs, featuring a 1951 landscape of the village's St Oswald's Church by renowned artist Kenneth Rowntree, are up on main roads into Malpas.

Cheshire West and Chester councillor Chris Whitehurst says the signs are the end of a very long process to have them put up, and he thanked all involved.

"It has been a long and frustrating journey to complete the project but we have finally succeeded," he said.

"I would like to thank Bonamy Deva, Ian Okell, Adrian Waddelove, Sue Griffith and Andrew Coward for their help in making this happen in time to give Malpas an overdue Christmas present!"

Cllr Whitehurst said his thoughts on the design for the signs were inspired by a family member after one of his paintings were used for a town sign outside Wigan.

He added: "In 2012, I approached Cheshire West Council for permission to cost and install picture boundary signs in Malpas but initially permission was refused because of some confusion about the regulations.

"Then I struggled to find five iconic views suitable for the five entrance signs, and I was not sure that it was appropriate that I alone should decide on the picture.

"Fast forward another four years and I received a request from the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to provide them with help in getting some tourist signs for St Oswald's on the A41 road.

"It was at this point my thoughts turned again to the now severely weathered and damaged existing boundary signs.

"So in conjunction with a representative of the PCC, we resurrected the idea of the village boundary signs with the idea of using a picture of St Oswald's Church.

"One was found that was a copy of an original by Rowntree, which was commissioned by the Rector Guy Hepher.

"A successful attempt was made, too, to trace his family, which still owns the copyright to the painting, to seek its permission to use his work on the signs. This was readily given."

The signs have been in place since around December 22.