'Put Battle of Britain hero on the plinth'

NOVELIST Frederick Forsyth and retired military leaders today pledged support for a statue of Battle of Britain hero Sir Keith Park on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth as art experts meet today to consider the scheme.

General Sir Michael Rose, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Day and MPs including Nicholas Soames and Tony Benn are supporting the bid. A permanent bronze would later be erected at another site.

The public art advisory panel of experts from institutions such as the Royal Academy meets today to consider the scheme. Westminster councillors are expected to vote on planning permission for it next week, on 7 May.

Day of the Jackal author Forsyth said: "Were it not for this remarkable New Zealander, his organisational genius and his dedication, there might well be no Westminster City Council save with a swastika flying over it."