A NEW Wycombe Marsh village sign and community area was unveiled by five of the community's oldest residents at a celebration on Saturday.

Two residents from Wycombe Marsh, two from Upper Marsh and one from North Marsh unveiled the sign in Abbey Barn Road.

It was seen as an example of the ‘Big Society’ in action.

The sign features an idyllic scene of the Wycombe Marsh ford based on a picture taken of the area in 1890.

The procession started at the Ryemead war memorial, which was originally located at the roundabout, then progressed down to the sign for the unveiling and speeches.

Cllr Peter Cartwright, who addressed residents at the war memorial, said: “The area's been barren for 15 years and now we are trying to bring back the centre piece of Wycombe Marsh.”

Representatives from three Wycombe Marsh churches brought water from the ford for the flowerbeds as a symbol of new life for the roundabout and Wycombe Marsh.

High Wycombe Town Mayor Jane White laid an advent wreath at the monument, before a song and dedication by Rev. Paul Willis and closing words by Cllr Snaith.

A celebration for residents followed in the Church of Shalom.

The event was the culmination of months of work by The Heart of Ryemead Community Association (HORCA) – a group founded three years ago by church groups, residents and ward councillors.

Trevor Snaith, one of the councillors who pushed for the structure, said: “We wanted to get the community feeling back into the Marsh because it has almost become swallowed up by the sprawl of High Wycombe.

“It went extremely well today, there's been lots of support for the sign in the area.”

The sign is seen as the first step for Wycombe Marsh and there are plans for a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, a community centre and annual street party.

The sign was funded by fund-raising, donations from the Wycombe Local Community Partnership and councillors' funds.