Major Robertson points at the plinth in Trafalgar Square

Author Sir John Mortimer says campaigners fighting for a memorial in Trafalgar Square to the women of the Second World War have a "formidable" case.

Sir John, who chairs a group looking at what should happen to an empty "fourth plinth" in the square, said: "I am very conscious of the wonderful contribution women made and we are taking it very, very seriously.

"It's a movement; an application which has an enormous amount of support. I'm old enough to have lived through the Second World War and I knew a lot of women through it - they were extremely jolly and worked incredibly hard."

The writer spoke out after reporter Janet Hewison handed Sir John an Evening Press petition signed by more than 300 people in support of the memorial, and also a dossier of stories about North Yorkshire women who are backing the campaign.

The campaign for a memorial to all the women who contributed during the Second World War, whether in the forces, in civilian jobs or at home, is being co-ordinated from York by Major David Robertson along with veterans and former Ack Ack girls, Mildred Beal, from Clifton, York and Edna Storr, from Selby.

Major Robertson made a presentation to the group with Selby MP John Grogan and Judy Collins, curator of 20th Century Sculpture at the Tate Gallery. They argued that a permanent sculpture was vital on the plinth, that it should have a military theme befitting with the rest of Trafalgar Square, and that it should represent women, who are not represented anywhere else in the square.

The campaign has been going for nearly three years and its patron is the Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd. The Queen has agreed to unveil the memorial.

After their meeting, the campaigners said they were optimistic about securing a site in the square.

And the campaign won more support today from the Reverend Ian Paisley, Democratic Unionist Party leader, who said a women's war memorial was the "ideal candidate" for the Trafalgar Square site.

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