Barnsley's first 'Chinese friendly' sign has been put up in the town to welcome visitors from the east.

The large sign has been put up on Gateway Church, Mottram Street, in celebration of Barnsley-born missionary James Hudson Taylor who went to China in the 19th century and has thousands of followers across China.

The sign in Barnsley welcomes visitors in both Chinese and English with a QR code to point people to the James Hudson Taylor Trail website. A form of simplified Chinese has been used - rather than Mandarin or Cantonese - which all Chinese visitors should be able to understand.

Born in Barnsley in 1832, Hudson Taylor spent more than 50 years in China where he founded the China Inland Mission.

Gateway Church pastor Mark Reasbeck hopes that many more businesses, public buildings and churches will order the same sign.

He said: "The more of these signs around the town, the more ready we are to welcome Chinese tourists for the Hudson Taylor Trail across Barnsley, which can only be good news for the town."

The sign was designed and translated by Barnsley entrepreneur Bridget Pearson who runs a Chinese communications business called Your Bridge to China.

Two blue heritage plaques were mounted last May next to Boots the Chemist to mark Hudson Taylor's birthplace and plans are in place for more around the town.

Any businesses or churches wishing to purchase a sign can e-mail Bridget at bridget@yourbridgetochina.co.uk.