Artist Graham Clarke has given his backing to a memorial for Tony Hart in Maidstone.

Mr Clarke, from Boughton Monchelsea, is involved in talks with the Hazlitt Arts Centre, art teachers and Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem), of Maidstone council.

The result could be a tribute to Mr Hart, who was born in Hastings Road, Maidstone, in 1925 and joined the Maidstone College of Art in St Faith’s Street, now the University of Creative Arts. He died on January 18.

Cllr Daley (Lib Dem) who also campaigned for the bronze Gurkha statue outside Maidstone Museum, said: “The idea is to have a group of some of our young and talented artists working on designs, which could be a sculpture or caricature, with the support of Graham Clarke.

“It would reinforce the link Tony Hart had with young people.”

Managers at the Hazlitt Arts Centre, in Earl Street, have agreed to make space available for the tribute.

Mr Clarke added: “It is early days at the moment but I am happy to support this in any way.”

More than 4,000 people have signed up to a Facebook petition calling for a tribute to Mr Hart.

The council has said a statue can only go ahead if it is funded by the public but has said it would consider erecting a plaque in his memory.

If any art teacher or student in Maidstone is interested in supporting the memorial idea they can email Cllr Daley at DanDaley@maidstone.gov.uk