Villagers turned out for the unveiling of the new village sign at Foxley. Picture: Ian Burt

The Norfolk village sign has a proud tradition - and that pride was evident on Saturday when a new village sign was unveiled in Foxley, near Dereham.

John Harvey and Maisie Wells at the official unveiling of the new Foxley village sign. Picture: Ian Burt

Maisie Wells, who has lived almost all of her 83 years in Foxley, and is the resident with the longest-held association with the village, performed the official unveiling of the sign, which stands proudly on the memorial site, just off the main A1067 Norwich to Fakenham road.

She said: “I think it looks lovely and it is a great honour to have been asked to come and do this.”

Foxley had its first village sign built in 1989.

It was positioned to unite the two parts of the village which are separated by the A1067.

But wind, rain and frost had taken their toll on the old sign and there were fears it may eventually have to come down.

Foxley Parish Council came up with the idea of replacing the sign two years ago.

Councillor Nigel Hatch collected the £930 needed to have the sign remade from nine residents in the village.

The council employed husband-and-wife team Kelvin and Mary Thatcher, from Croxton Hamlet, near Fulmodeston, to make the sign.

The new Foxley sign, made from solid oak, depicts a fox in a meadow of bluebells.

Mr Thatcher said: “By making this new sign for Foxley I believe we have updated the village’s history, in a way.”

Foxley Parish Council chairman John Harvey said: “The sign is an important part of the village. It has helped give Foxley its identity.

“We are really pleased with the way it looks. We wanted to ensure the fee didn’t come out of the parish council precept so we are grateful to everyone who contributed.”

Mr Hatch said: “I love that grin on the fox’s face and if you go to Foxley Wood at the end of April you will see a sea of bluebells. It is something the village is known for so I’m pleased this has been captured on the sign.”

During the sign’s unveiling, Mr Harvey paid tribute to Foxley resident Bill Evans who died, after a battle with cancer, on Saturday morning.

Mr Evans had paid for the Foxley war memorial, which stands behind the village sign, to be cleaned before Remembrance Day last year.