Sir Walter Scott - author of the novel Ivanhoe part of which is set in Ashby - is to appear on commemorative coins issued by the Royal Mint in 2021.

It is to mark the 250th Anniversary of his birth and he is featured on a £2 coin.

Scott's famous work is a historical novel published in three volumes, in 1819, as one of the Waverley novels.

Ivanhoe proved to be one of the best-known and most influential of Scott's novels.

Set in 12th-century England, with colourful descriptions of a tournament, outlaws, a witch trial, and divisions between Jews and Christians, Ivanhoe is credited for increased interest in chivalric romance and medievalism.

In it, Ashby Castle and a medieval tournament there, is featured.

The word Ivanhoe is a famliar one to most Ashbeians as it features throughout the town.

The Royal Mint last month announced it is among five new designs that will appear on British coins in 2021 and it says: "Born in Edinburgh in 1771, Sir Walter Scott is regarded as one of the most influential Scots in history.

"As a child he was sent to the countryside to help him recover from a bout of polio, and it was during his time there that he first heard the folklore and poetry that would inspire his later works.

"Weaving together traditional stories and reimagining them, Scott captured the spirit of Scotland and provided a national identity for the Scottish people. These themes made him hugely popular, and he rewarded his fans with a staggering number of novels and poems, many of which remain literary classics to this day.

"In 2021, 250 years on from his birth, we're celebrating Scott's incredible role in putting Scottish literature on the map.

"What's more, you may be surprised to learn that his impact can also be felt in our modern English language.

"Fond of adapting colloquial phrases, many of the unique expressions we use in English come from Scott's works.

"These include 'caught red-handed', 'cold shoulder', 'blood is thicker than water', 'flotsam and jetsam', and 'tongue in cheek'.

The new coins will celebrate milestones including Her Majesty The Queen's 95th Birthday and the 50th anniversary of Decimalisation

Each of the coins features a design by a commissioned artist, and brings a milestone to life on a £5, £2 or 50 pence coin.

The 2021 Annual Set will commemorate;

• The 95th Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen on a £5
• 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott on a £2
• The life and work of John Logie Baird on a 50p
• The 50th Anniversary of Decimal Day 2021 on a 50p
• The life and work of H.G. Wells 2021 on a £2

Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of the Consumer Division at The Royal Mint said, "Each year The Royal Mint unveils a series of commemorative coins to celebrate key moments and milestones that helped shape Britain. This year's annual set marks some of the biggest anniversaries

"In 2021, including Her Majesty The Queen's 95th birthday and John Logie Baird's legacy of innovation. Each coin is a miniature work of art and has been designed as a treasured keepsake or gift."