The two replica pieces have been installed in Avenham Park in place of the historic Crimean War weapons that once used to sit in the park.

Preston's original cannons were captured at Sebastopol, Russia, during the conflict of 1853 to 1856 and were donated in memory of Lancashire's soldiers who fought in the war.

They were scrapped in the 1960s but, as part of Preston Council's £5m regeneration of Avenham and Miller Parks, experts at a firm called Lost Art have crafted replica cannons to re-establish the monuments in Avenham Walk.

Coun Keith Sedgewick, executive member for environment and neighbourhood services, said: "The original cannons were an important part of the park's history and a reminder of local people who fought for their country in the Crimean War.

"It will be great to see the cannons in place once again and they will be a dramatic sight for people as they walk along the tram bridge and see them pointing out across the River Ribble."

Father Timothy Lipscomb, chairman of the Friends of Avenham and Miller Park, said: "These are traditional Victorian parks so we're trying to bring them back to how they were at the time.

"Britain was a dangerous place to live back in those times and these cannons will enable us to commemorate and remember the blood shed in conflicts such as the Crimean War."

The installations are part of a project to restore all 37 acres of Avenham and Miller Parks, including a new cafe.