A series of pavement plaques will illustrate Banbury's historic past for tourists and shoppers in a bid to encourage visitors to explore the town centre.

Cherwell District Council is planning a trail of pictures telling the story of Banbury's heritage.

The plaques have been designed by Birmingham-based artist Anu Patel and could be in place by the end of the year.

The scheme, paid for by the council and Banbury Rotary Club, will cost £50,000.

The Rotary club will contribute £9,000.

A leaflet will guide visitors to each of the 21 plaques and give a brief account of the history of each site.

The chosen sites include St Mary's Church, The Cross, The Mill, Jones' Wine Shop, and the Old Gaol.

Nicola Riley, Cherwell's arts and tourism manager, said: "The council has a strong track record of commissioning public art and is one of only three local authorities selected for Arts Council funding under the City and Town Centres Initiative."

Deputy town mayor Surinder Dhesi said: "The trail will be a marvellous addition to Banbury's tourist attractions."

The designs can be inspected by members of the public at Banbury's tourist information centre in Castle Quay. It is open until January 24.

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