Historic gates in Sandwell could be returned to their original home of Liverpool after people in the city campaigned for them to come back.

The listed gates in Smethwick feature the oldest example of the Liver Birds motif and have guarded the entrance to Avery Berkel, the former Soho Foundry, for 70 years.

Sandwell Council has now received a handful of letters from Merseyside residents asking for their return and are drawing up proposals to return the gates to their rightful home.

The gates have been at the Smethwick firm since they were brought to the Black Country for repair from the former Liverpool Sailors’ Home.

They were originally cast in Liverpool by Henry Pooley & Sons in 1840, but had to be removed in the late 1940s to repair war damage. Henry Pooley & Sons merged with scales maker Avery and the gates were offered to the firm.