A DETAILED report is to drawn up over whether to install a missing wooden cross on the Roysia stone. It is believed that the stone once displayed a cross – but there is no illustration available. Members of North Herts District Council s Royston area co

A DETAILED report is to drawn up over whether to install a "missing" wooden cross on the Roysia stone.

It is believed that the stone once displayed a cross - but there is no illustration available.

Members of North Herts District Council's Royston area committee were told that there needed to more investigation into the matter.

Community development officer Alan Fleck told the committee: "There is no obvious model from which to work."

He said, however, that there was a wide range of "potential models" which included a conventional Christian cross and a Knights Templar cross.

Mr Fleck said there were concerns about the stone, itself.

He was worried that any drilling into the ancient stone could put it at risk of splitting.

Mr Fleck suggested that a discreet mounting plate could be used which was not in contact with the stone.

He added that there was also a risk of people swinging on the cross once it had been installed.

Cllr Peter Burt described the Roysia stone as being "irreplaceable".

And he insisted that the district council talked to Royston Town Council about any plans for the stone.

The town council is responsible for the Roysia stone.