A village signpost is reminding motorists of the community's place in football history.

West Auckland beat Italian side Juventus, in Italy to become the first winners of the World Cup in the 1909/10 season, retaining the trophy the following year.

To commemorate this feat two new signs on the road into the village from nearby Hummerbeck bear the legend: Welcome to West Auckland - Home of the First World Cup.''

Club chairman Jim Palfreyman said: "People know there's a club in the North-East which won the World Cup, but they are not sure where it is. Now they will know."

Plans to mark the village's history in this way came when Durham County Council announced it would be renewing road signs.

But guidelines state that only four words could be used so the new design for West Auckland had to be put to the Ministry of Transport, in London, before it could be passed.

For Councillor Sonny Douthwaite, of St Helen Auckland, it was a special moment when the signpost was erected.

He said: "My grandfather Charlie Hogg played in the team. He played for the winning team and went on to defend it the following year.''

The original World Cup was stolen but the town has been given a replica, which is held by the football club.