SANDBACH'S Saxon Crosses have won a place on a map of the country's most significant historic attractions.
The market town's centrepiece, which is one of the country's finest examples of Anglo-Saxon high crosses, will take pride of place on Ordnance Survey's Ancient Britain map.
Ordnance Survey spokes-woman Emma Redgrave says the crosses, which date back to the 9th Century, have been included because they have significant historic value and are a popular tourist attraction.
She said: 'The crosses dominate the cobbled market square of Sandbach and are considered among the finest surviving examples of Anglo-Saxon high crosses.
'They are stunning to look at and are set in a beautiful market town, which is packed full of historic significance.'
The crosses are carved with animals and biblical scenes, including the Nativity of Christ and the Crucifixion.
The crosses, and its cobbled square, have been the subject of contention over the years.
In 2002 a group of Sand-bach town councillors began a campaign to get the cobbles ripped up claiming they were dangerous, then 18 months ago another group of town councillors began a campaign to preserve the site by stopping cars parking around the tourist attraction.
As a result Cheshire County Council is considering plans to install rising bollards at the entrances, as part of its current £250,000 scheme to improve and protect the town's transport network.
The crosses are the only South Cheshire monument featured in detail on the map.
Other Cheshire sites which get a mention are Kelsborrow Castle, an Iron Age fort in Kelsall, and Clewlow Early Medieval Crosses in Macclesfield.
The Ordnance Survey Ancient Britain map shows Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and early Medieval sites against a backdrop of modern mapping.