"For decades, Stokies have been turning over cups, saucers and plates in all parts of the globe to check whether or not they were made in the city.

Now people are being encouraged to join a club which gives them the freedom to carry on the tradition by turning over pottery and checking the backstamp whenever and wherever they like.

The roots of Backstamp Club go back as far as the start of the 1900s when local author Arnold Bennett was writing novels and plays.

It was Bennett who while on his international travels was once challenged for turning over a saucer and had to explain that it is possible to recognise anyone who comes from Stoke-on-Trent, because of their automatic desire to turn over a cup to check not only whether it was made in the city, but also the name of the manufacturer on its backstamp.

Membership of the Backstamp Club is free and open to anyone in the world. The club will be launched nationally at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery on Monday, March 11 when James Beresford, chief executive of VisitEngland, will be presented with his official Backstamp Club card.

Deputy council leader councillor Paul Shotton, who will present Mr Beresford with his card, said: "The idea of the club is not only to celebrate this endearing habit, but also carry the message that there is great pride in seeing the name of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and even Britain being carried worldwide on fine china and ceramics.

"We're rightfully proud of our reputation as home of the Potteries and hopefully a lot of people will join this club and help spread the word even further.

"As well as celebrating the past, we are also looking to the future with the City Deal bid, which would put the region at the forefront of international research and development in manufacturing and make it the home for advanced materials businesses in Europe."

All Backstamp Club members will receive their own personal Backstamp Club card.

They will also receive all the latest club news and have the chance to enter various competitions throughout the year and win some great prizes."

Sentinel Newspaper - 8 March 2013