Netherton will be turning back the clock to the Edwardian era on Sunday as it holds a celebratory event to welcome home a replica Titanic anchor.

The community event will see a life size reproduction 15 and three quarter ton anchor, from the world famous ship, being returned to the Black Country in a spectacular parade as it is towed by 20 shire horses.

The celebration is being filmed by television crews as part of a Channel Four documentary about the Edwardian industrial era, in which the Black Country played a significant part.

Netherton is famous for its chain and anchor making role in world history, with the original Titanic anchor made by Noah Hingley and Sons ironworks.

As part of the programme, an exact replica of the anchor - which was the biggest anchor in the world at the time - has been cast by Sheffield Forgemaster International Limited and will make the same reverse journey it undertook in 1911 - with residents urged to line the streets to see the impressive parade as it passers by.

Making its way from the former London and North Western Railway station, near Dudley Zoo at around noon, the anchor will be pulled into the heart of Netherton by a team of shire horses accompanied by grooms in Edwardian costume.

Expected to take about an hour and a half to reach Netherton, the procession will travel along the Dudley Southern bypass, onto Cinder Bank, through Baptist End and stop at Northfield Road where the horses will be uncoupled and the installation of the anchor and a civic presentation ceremony will begin.

The installation of the anchor is expected to take around an hour. Once installed, the anchor will be roped off, although viewing is possible for the rest of the day before it goes on display at the Black Country Living Museum for 12 months while a permanent base is created in the borough.

Motorists are being advised the roads being used for the procession will be closed as it passes, but will reopen once clear.

However Baptist End and Northfield Road will remain closed to vehicles throughout the day but will provide an ideal viewing point for watching the procession and ceremony.

Commentary from the stage will also keep visitors up to date with the anchor’s progress.

During the day Netherton will be a hive of activity as visitors can celebrate the town’s past and present heritage, by enjoying exhibitions, street entertainment and a fun fair.

There will be music and drama performances by youth groups and Netherton Arts Centre will also be showing Titanic themed films in its cinema as well as extracts from Quarry Bank Musical Theatre’s September production of ‘Titanic: The Musical.’ Councillor David Stanley, cabinet member for environment and culture, said: “This is wonderful news for Netherton and the borough as a whole.

We have so much to be proud of, with our industrial past and warm and welcoming Black Country communities who I hope will play a part on the day.

“To be invited to take part in such a landmark project by Channel Four is just fantastic and I can’t wait to see the anchor on its arrival in Netherton.”