Members of Steeple Ashton Women’s Institute gathered at the village green on Saturday to mark their 60th anniversary with the installation of a new bench.

Around 16 women gathered at Steeple Ashton village green where an existing bench, first put in in 1965, was replaced.

WI member Sue Culverhouse said the original bench had fallen into disrepair so the group decided to celebrate their landmark anniversary by raising money for a new one.

The 67 year old said: “The back of the original seat had broken, it was beyond repair so when we were asking the members how they wanted to celebrate our anniversary last year, one lady suggested replacing the bench.

“We raised money at a few events last year including a coffee morning.”

The group only had to pay for the materials as villager Ron Hodge offered to make the bench free of charge.

The new bench has a plaque commemorating the WI’s 60th anniversary, as well as accommodating the plaque from the previous bench.

Steeple Ashton WI was originally founded in 1916 but at the end of the war the group dissolved, starting up again in 1949.