A lasting tribute to artist Tony Hart is to be erected in Maidstone.

A commemmorative plaque is likely to be put up at the Hazlitt Arts Centre after fans called for a memorial to the Maidstone-born artist.

Hundreds of people signed up to a Facebook group, many contacted the Kent Messenger and artist Graham Clarke, one of Britain's best-selling print-makers who lives in Boughton Monchelsea, also backed calls for a tribute.

Ideas ranged from a plaque to a bronze statue of Tony's cartoon sidekick Morph.

~ Audio: Paul Hardy, the person behind the Facebook group, talks to kmfm's Aurelia Allen >>>

Cabinet member for leisure and culture, Brian Moss wants to provide a tribute to the Maidstone-born television artist which will be displayed at the Hazlitt Arts Centre.

Cllr Moss said: "A commemorative plaque will be a permanent reminder of a well-known local artist. We hope that one of his pictures can also be displayed.

"Tony Hart was born in Hastings Road and the arts centre is a fitting venue in which to commemorate him. Perhaps this is a tradition we could continue in other appropriate cases."

Born in Maidstone in 1925 Tony Hart’s television career spanned 50 years. He is best remembered for his role with the BBC as a television artist in a variety of programmes, including Vision On, Smart Hart and Hart Beat.

In 1984 his BBC programme Take Hart won a BAFTA and he received a Lifetime Achievement award in 1998.

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