THREE generous civic heroes have stepped in to help the town council purchase Andover’s own coat of arms, after a legal loophole meant the authority did not own the rights to use the image.

The anonymous donors have given Andover Town Council more than £3,000 to allow them to obtain the image rights for the town’s coat of arms, originally granted to Andover Borough Council back in 1949.

The latter authority was incorporated into the current Test Valley Borough Council in 1974 while Andover Town Council, a parish level authority, was established in 2010.

Working on the assumption that Andover’s coat of arms would be transferred automatically, the town council have used the image for the last six years.

However earlier this year current chairman Katherine Bird contacted the College of Arms, official repository of the coats of arms and pedigrees in England, in the hope of obtaining a better quality version of the image.

While speaking to officers of the College, which was founded in 1484, Cllr Bird was told the authority did not actually own the rights to use Andover’s coat of arms.

This was due to a legal loophole, caused because the council was formed under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, rather than the Local Government Acts of 1972 and 1992.

Cllr Bird was also informed that the authority could face a hefty £14,000 bill in order to get an official vellum certificate for the patent, or cease using the image all together.

After discussions, the council opted to settle for a paper certificate at the cost of £3,000 and a digitalised version at the cost of around £600.

Originally this was to be paid using taxpayer’s money.

However three anonymous donors have now agreed to cover the cost in order to return the coat of arms to the town.

Cllr Bird said: “It was a big shock when we found out that we didn’t own the rights.

“But once we knew we agreed that we wanted to buy it as it should belong to the town.

“I have to say a very big thank you to the civic-minded people who donated the money to give this gift to the people of Andover.”

Cllr Bird confirmed the authority are currently in the process of purchasing the patent.