Plans to revive the ancient parish of Willesley - for the first time since 1936 - have moved a significant step closer.

A proposal from Willesley Environment Protection Association (WEPA) - requesting Ashby de la Zouch Town Council accepts responsibility for signage indicating the boundaries of the ancient parish of Willesley - has been agreed.

Willesley became part of Ashby almost 90 years ago.

But WEPA presented its case at a recent meeting of the Town Council's planning committee.

Ian Retson of the Association, said the idea had been put forward around two years ago for signage to indicate the boundaries of the ancient Parish of Willesley - together with an information board.

He said: "Our proposal is, the Association requests of support of the Town council and their project to seek the funding for the provision of road signs, indicating where Willesley is to assist visitors.

How the new sign could look. Image: WEPA

"Signs could be worded "The historic thankful village of Willesley" along with an information board on the current attractions, history and diverse wildlife of the area.

"Why? To help visitors, locate the historical and tourist attraction area of Willesley.

"Visitors and tourist numbers have increased dramatically since the National Forest started in 1991.

"It is an important part of the National Forest, having several major attractions, including, Hicks Lodge Cycle Centre, Willesley Scout Camp, Oakthorpe, colliery picnic site, Willesley Church, numerous walking and cycling routes connect to Ashby and other settlements.

"Willesley existed as a separate parish, because it had its own church, rather than being a village.

Image: WEPA

"It existed from Saxon times until 1936, when it became part of Ashby and is recorded in the Domesday book with 13 households equivalent to her and 65 people, most of the land was owned by King William

"For the past 1,000 years, Willesley Parish has had a steady population of around, 60.

"Willesley is one of only 50 'Thankful Villages' of the First World War, there are only five in Leicestershire - these are the villages where the men who served abroad all returned home alive, in the case of Willesley, it was three."

The positioning of the new signs has yet to be agreed, with three sites suggested.

The Association added: "The information board would be ideally placed on the grass Island on Willesley, crossroads, or adjacent to the public footpath entrance to Willesley Wood."