A CAMPAIGN has been launched to get a Burnley band’s homage to Lady Thatcher to number one - for the week of her funeral.

Lead vocalist Mike Hargreaves, of Notsensibles, was appalled with moves to ensure ‘Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead’ secures the top spot tomorrow ((SUN)).

And he hopes a resurgence of interest in their 1979 classic - ‘I’m In Love With Margaret Thatcher’ - would pip the ‘derogatory’ track to pole position.

Promoter Susie Delooze said: “The idea came from Mike because there had been a lot of talk about Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead.

“Whether you like her or not the band thought that their song was more tongue-in-cheek and not so horrible towards the lady and her family.

“Hopefully, it will reach a much wider audience and be more respectful than other songs.”

The 70s version of I’m In Love... had an original pressing of just 1,000 copies and was released to ‘celebrate’ the Iron Lady’s election in 1979.

But due to popular demand it was re-released through Snotty Snail Records a year later and became their signature tune.

Last year the band, which also includes guitarist Stephen Hartley, with Roger Rawlinson on keyboards, Gary Brown on bass and drummer Kevin Hemingway, enjoyed a mini-revival.

Following a series of gigs at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, they made an appearance at punk festival Rebellion 2012 and released a greatest hits package.

People can support the band’s campaign via Facebook by logging on to www.facebook.com/NumberOneForMaggie.

Yesterday afternoon, the page had almost 200 ‘likes’.