CAMPAIGNERS fighting for a national memorial to the women of the Second World War are celebrating after winning planning permission for a site near the Cenotaph in London.

But the York-based team now has to raise another £140,000 to pay for the memorial to be built.

Since the campaign started five years ago in York, it has gained backing from high profile supporters including the Princess Royal, former Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd, and forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn.

In York and neighbouring Selby, the main players have been veterans Mildred Veal, from Clifton, and Edna Storr, from Selby, their MPs Hugh Bayley and John Grogan, and campaign chairman Major David Robertson, of Imphal Barracks.

Now the campaigners' main aim is to raise the remaining cash quickly so that as many women who lived through the war as possible get to see the memorial.

The memorial will remember the millions of women who contributed to the war effort, whether at home, on the land, in factories or offices, or in the forces.

Major Robertson said that they had focused their efforts on Whitehall after their bid for a memorial in Trafalgar Square was turned down two years ago.

Then the first site identified in Whitehall had to be rejected due to an underground oil tank.

Westminster Council has now given planning permission for another site, close to the Cenotaph, with conditions relating to the design of the memorial.

A design has already been drawn up by two sculptors and will have to get the approval of councillors before the scheme goes ahead.

But the memorial will now cost £850,000 because a "bridge" will have to be installed beneath it over the service pipes and cables under the centre of Whitehall.

Major Robertson said the Heritage Lottery Fund was likely to provide two-thirds of this sum, but the campaigners, who have already raised £140,000, would have to raise the remaining £140,000.

"We are now appealing to everyone to donate a sum, however small, to build this memorial as quickly as possible, as these ladies are getting older every year," he said.

- Please send your donations to the National Memorial to the Women of World War Two, c/o Major David Robertson, HQ York Garrison, Imphal Barracks, York YO10 4HD.

Updated: 11:47 Wednesday, July 31, 2002