VISITORS to a North Yorkshire village can be assured of a warm welcome from every direction.

Appleton Wiske is entering the village section of this year's national Britain in Bloom competition and signs now stand at all four entrance roads.

They have been bought by the Appleton in Bloom group and made to their own design.

"The plaques are made from resin and feature apples and apple blossom," said chairman Derek Partington. "This reflects the Britain in Bloom theme as well as the village's name."

County council approval was obtained with the help of the parish council, whose chairman, Ken Blackwood, said that the old signs had become very tatty.

"The new signs conform to current legislation and standards and reflect the attractiveness of the village as it is today, after all the hard work of the Appleton in Bloom group and village residents," he said.

The signs have been put up on stone plinths made by village builder Paul Smith, using stone reclaimed from old fireplaces from houses in the village. The work was completed by the replanting of flowerbeds under each sign.