A piece of Sandbach's history will be highlighted this weekend when Morris dancers from all over the country converge on the town for the Day of Dance. 

A local artist has decorated a willow stick with the town's famous two sandstone crosses whose links date back to the 9th century. 

The stick will be presented to the best performing 'side' on Saturday (June 1st) at the event which is being held for the first time in several years.  

James Anderson Rogers, a talented artist from Ettiley Heath, who specialises in oil painting, graphite drawing and plein air – painting outdoors as we revealed here has done the design. 

James hard at work in his Ettiley Heath studio. (Photo: Nub News)

Sandbach's crosses in the market place are among the best surviving examples of Anglo-Saxon sculpture and are dated back to the 9th century. 

Sandbach was then at the centre of a Saxon parish which could have been a minister church linked to the Bishops of Lichfield. 

In the early 17th century the crosses were torn down by Puritans opposed to religious beliefs and they were reassembled in 1816. 

Sandbachs famous crosses. (Photo: Nub News)

The finale of the event, which is revealed here , is due to take place in front of the town's mayor, Councillor Ann Nevitt, from 3.30 pm until 4.45 pm on Saturday. 

The history of Sandbach crosses is detailed on this inscription in the market place. (Photo: Nub News)

Twelve Morris 'sides' are set to take part in the event which took place from 2000 to 2017 as we revealed here and is making a comeback. 

The dancers will be performing in front of Sandbach Town Hall and in Market Square and in the evening there's a Ceilidh at St Mary's Church Hall. 

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