A plaque has finally been erected at The Watermans Arms in Hersham to seminal 1970s punk rockers Sham 69.

The band which which was formed in 1975 had several hits, including Hersham Boys, Hurry Up Harry and If the Kids are United.

Hersham residents association chairman, Andy Pinnick said the plaque was put up outside the pub, on Hersham Green, as a tribute to the band's role in putting Hersham on the map. He said: "The band played there regularly when it was starting out in the mid-1970s, because all its members came from Hersham village.

"We originally wanted a blue plaque but found out from English Heritage that you had to be dead for at least 20 years! We thought green was the best colour."

The plaque, which was funded by £200 from community donations and £100 from the residents' association, is made of enamelled steel and is oval-shaped, 20ins by 14ins.

Pub landlord, Tony Blenkinsop, who went to school with the band's frontman Jimmy Pursey, said although he didn't live in the village any more, the group had made a big impact.

He said: "The cover of the band's first album, Hersham Boys, was photographed outside The George Pub in Hersham Road, opposite our old school, Rydens. All the Hersham boys were in the picture."

The residents' association began discussions about the plaque in November but there was a delay after controversy caused by Pursey admitting he accepted a police caution in 2002 after forcibly kissing a 16-year-old girl in a Weybridge newsagents.

Pursey said the incident was "exaggerated".