A VILLAGE built to house Austin car workers is now officially commemorated.

The Austin Village Preservation Society were given two plaques to mark the estate's founder, Herbert Austin and the inhabitants of its cedar wood bungalows.

Birmingham Civic Society and Phoenix Venture Holdings stumped up the plaques, erected in Central Avenue.

(PL:d00981.jpg:BOSTIN' AUSTIN: Society members Sadie Gilbert and Doug Adams, with one of the new plaques)

Longbridge Labour MP Richard Burden unveiled them at a grand ceremony.

City Lord Mayor Mahmood Hussain also attended and was driven around the old-fashioned estate in an Austin 7 motor vehicle.

The preservation society has been running since 1990 and has around 400 members. They organise Christmas parties for children, residents' outings, history talks and a street fete every May.

The group has also published a book celebrating their thriving community.

Society liaison officer Doug Adams: "It was a day to remember and a very fitting tribute to a great man who contributed a lot to the local area."

Herbert Austin founded his car factory in 1905. During the Great War his organisation made ammunition.

But Austin found it increasingly difficult to transport workers from the city to Longbridge. So in 1917, he decided to bring his workers closer to the factory and developed green fields in Longbridge.

Austin imported 200 cedar bungalows from America and built brick houses to act as fire stops.

For information about the book contact Mr Adams at 42 Hawksley Drive, Northfield B31 4EY or e-mail austinvillage@hotmail.com