BLACKBURN is set to get a statue of former MP Barbara Castle in a council-led bid to inspire the town's women.

The new tribute is likely to be installed in the Sudell Cross area of the town centre after councillors gave plans the go-ahead.

Council bosses claim the town needs another female icon to even up the numbers of famous men and women honoured by the town.

Blackburn has two town-centre statues of famous men, William Gladstone in Northgate and William Hornby outside the town hall, but only one woman - Queen Victoria in the Boulevard.

The bulk of the estimated £50,000 costs will be paid for by the Barbara Castle Trust and donations from politicians.

Ian Walters, an artist famous for a statue of former PM Harold Wilson in Huddersfield and Nelson Mandela in London, is likely to be invited to make the new figure.

Mr Walters also designed a bust of Baroness Castle which sits in House of Commons offices and the life-size statue in Blackburn is likely to be based on that figure. Baroness Castle was famous for fighting social causes and the former Labour Cabinet minister rose to become one of the most high-profile politicians of her generation.

Described as a trail-blazer for women in politics, she died peacefully in her sleep at her Buckinghamshire home in May 2002 at the age of 91. At the time Tony Blair paid tribute to her saying she was a radical and independent spirit, an extraordinary pioneer for women in politics.

She served in the Wilson governments of the 1960s and 70s, acting as transport secretary and social services secretary.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen, said the statue would have the same prominence as the Gladstone sculpture and that two "great reformers" would stand yards apart from each other.

He added: "The council has provisionally approached the artist Ian Walters to produce a new statue of the late Baroness Barbara Castle. It will be incorporated into the environmental improvement scheme planned for the Sudell Cross area, although the exact site has not yet been decided.

"Like other towns, Blackburn with Darwen wishes to mark the contribution of its notable citizens."

News of the statue was welcomed by Blackburn MP Jack Straw and his Rossendale and Darwen colleague Janet Anderson, both of whom worked as assistants to the Baroness when she was an MP.

Foreign Secretary Mr Straw said: "I think this is an excellent idea. I think this statute will be an appropriate monument to a great politician and champion of Blackburn.''

Mrs Anderson added: "I am delighted. It will be a fitting tribute to a great woman."