By Hayley Robinson

Businesses and individuals are being urged to hand over their cash so a war memorial can be erected in Milton Regis.

Milton Regis War Memorial committee has raised £15,000 towards the sculpture and a further £5,000 is expected to come from a community ward fund courtesy of Kent County Councillor Mike Whiting.

But the committee still needs to raise £15,000 to pay for the Portland Stone sculpture.

It has been designed by sculptor Elliott Brotherton to replace the memorial in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church, in Green Porch Close, which was destroyed in the storm of 1987.

The committee would like to see the war memorial installed in time for this year’s Remembrance Sunday service but its dream won’t be realised unless the community helps.

Cllr Gerry Lewin, chair of the committee, said: "This is very much a project which strongly relates to the people of Milton Regis. It’s a memorial which is for those people from Milton Regis who made the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War.

"Some of the plaques were saved and put on plinths in Central Avenue.

"They carry the names of those from Milton Regis who died during the First World War and they will be put on the new memorial.

"We also plan to research the names of those killed during the Second World War and include them on it. We are also talking about Afghanistan and the possibility we will have to add names as the years go on.

"The committee is looking at fundraising ideas but we are urging sponsors to come forward and help in whatever way they can whether that be businesses or individuals in Milton Regis. I very much hope they will support it and feel strongly related to it that they want to dig deep."

Cllr Adam Tolhurst said: "I’ve approached local businesses in the area but to date had no luck, which isn’t surprising considering the economy at the moment.

"We’re always on the look-out for ways of raising the money needed and in the next few weeks we will be submitting an application for a lottery grant."

Anyone wishing to make a donation should contact Cllr Tolhurst on 01795 475888.