An appeal to raise £15,000 for a bronze statue in tribute to Maidstone's Gurkha regiment has been launched.

The statue will mark the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers and celebrate their work at the town’s Invicta Park Barracks.

The appeal was launched at 11am today at Maidstone Museum by Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem), Maidstone council's cabinet member for leisure and culture.

He said he was confident people would want to donate as the Gurkhas have been taken to the hearts of Maidstone residents.

Their connection with the town dates back to 1994 when 69 Gurkha Field Squadron moved into the barracks to join 36 Engineer Regiment.

They were later joined by the 70 Gurkha Field Squadron.

The council has commissioned Sussex based artist Mary Cox to design the statue which depicts a Gurkha Engineer Sergeant in dress uniform.

Any extra money raised will go into a Gurkha welfare fund.