A statue of the iconic wartime singer Dame Vera Lynn will no longer be built in Dover.

Ambitious plans to build a memorial park in honour of the forces’ sweetheart were touted last year and became part of Dover District Council’s levelling up bid.

The Dame Vera Lynn Park at Western Heights would’ve included an outdoor amphitheatre with views over the sea and harbour and was estimated to cost £26.5 million.

When announced the project was backed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and actress Joanna Lumley.

But after the council lost its bid for the levelling up grant the project’s future has been uncertain.

Plans also included a £1.5 million statue of the singer, funded by the Dame Vera Lynn memorial statue trust.

To date the committee has raised more than a third of their goal, £559,839 and sculptor Paul Day, whose work includes the Battle of Britain Memorial on the London Embankment, has agreed to design and create the statue.

However, at a full council meeting on Wednesday Cllr Trevor Bartlett said the family had chosen not to build the statue in Dover.

He said: “I have received a letter from Dame Vera Lynn’s family following further meetings with them after we were not successful in the first round of levelling up bids.

“We continued to find alternative sites for the statue of Dame Vera Lynn.

“Unfortunately after serious consideration, the family have decided they are now working with other parties to identify suitable sites outside the Dover area.

“This is of course disappointing but we understand their position and they have thanked us for our interest shown in the project and the assistance we have provided.”

A spokesman from the Dame Vera Lynn Memorial Trust said: “It is with great regret that the Trustees of the Dame Vera Lynn Memorial Fund must announce a change of site for its landmark statue.

“The statue was intended to take centre stage in Dover District Council's new memorial park on the Western Heights, but unfortunately, the Council has confirmed that this project cannot be progressed in the manner originally intended.

“Dover District Council did offer a new home for the memorial statue in close proximity to residential areas, but the Trustees felt this was an insufficient place to fully honour Dame Vera's inimitable legacy.

“We are now in discussions to secure a new site that will match the ambition of our project, allowing thousands of visitors to enjoy and appreciate our new memorial for generations to come.”

Dame Vera Lynn was the morale-boosting Forces' Sweetheart during the Second World War.

She became synonymous with the cliffs in 1942 with her wartime song (There'll be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover.

It was a message of hope to the nation and the troops who left to fight on the Continent and who hoped to have the first sight of Britain when returning home after the war.

The fundraising committee was chaired by MP Sir David Amess, who was stabbed to death in Southend last October and a memorial concert was held for him there in February, which also raised money for the statue.

Other members included the star’s daughter, son-in-law, Natalie Elphicke and council leader Trevor Bartlett.

Dover District Counil has been approached for comment over the future of the proposed park.