A BID to protect a mosaic of King Canute celebrating the town’s heritage has won support from Knutsford Town Council.

The historic image was created in 1995 by Maggy Howarth and installed on the pavement at the entrance to Heritage Way, beside The Old Sessions House.

It is believed that Knutsford derived its name from the Danish King Canute.

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Knutsford mayor Cllr Peter Coan said: “It is a lovely work of art and took a lot of time and effort to create.

“But now vehicles are parking there and starting to loosen the mosaic.

“We don’t know who owns the land.”

The area of Heritage Way is unregistered land and is not a public highway.

The council has previously investigated the ownership but has been unable to identify who the land belongs to.

Since 2005, the council has undertaken management of the area and repaired the setts around the mosaic twice.

Street furniture was installed and efforts made to dissuade vehicles parking at the site.

The council now wishes to register the land so that it would be in a stronger position to safeguard the mosaic from obstructions, such as parked cars and waste bins.

The environment and transport committee has agreed to investigate a further round of repairs to the setts, many of which have been dislodged.

At a full council meeting on Monday evening, Cllr Stewart Gardiner said: “Anything that helps to protect the mosaic is a good idea.”

Councillors voted unanimously for an application to be made to register the land.

It is estimated that an application the Land Registry for registering this area of unregistered title will cost under £100.