A VILLAGE in north Suffolk has celebrated the unveiling of its new sign – thanks to the endeavours and skill of a group of holiday cottage owners.

Sheila and Phil Amos, David Higgs, Tedd Jeffery, Sheila Humphrey and Ken Willoughby all wanted to contribute something to Cratfield, after spending many holidays in the village near Halesworth.

They came up with a scheme which culminated in the unveiling of a new village sign in front of a host of residents by long-term resident Peter Kingwell, who moved there 60 years ago.

The six friends all journey to the village at least twice a year and are all members of the Essex branch of the British Woodcarving Association.

They set up a woodcarving session in Cratfield, and after hearing that the original sign had been in a bad state of repair, they offered to create a replacement.

The new village sign depicts the four greens located in the community: Swan, Bell, North and Silverleys.

Each of the woodcarving group hand-crafted different parts of the design.

David Sillett, who is the chairman of Cratfield Town Estates Trustees, said: “They have been coming for many years and enjoy their stay.

“They wanted to put something back into the community and it is now a real feature in the village.”

As well as the new sign being unveiled, the celebration also included hand bells being rung and the singing of the national anthem.