PRIME Minister Theresa May has thrown her support behind an appeal to install a statue to honour Bewdley’s most famous son.

Bewdley Civic Society launched the Stanley Baldwin Statue Appeal at its annual dinner at St George’s Hall, which is looking to raise an estimated £150,000 to honour the former Prime Minister.

And chairman Richard Perrin revealed at the dinner, which was attended by 80 members and guests, that Mrs May has agreed to be the appeal’s patron, while HM The Queen has asked to be kept informed on how it goes.

The event was also attended by the Society’s newly elected president Beatrice Grant who is not only the great-granddaughter of Mr Baldwin but also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

Bewdley’s Mr Baldwin was Prime Minister three times, serving under three different monarchs between the world wars.

He also became Bewdley Civic Society’s founding president in 1944.

Planning permission has been granted for the bronze statue to be erected near the town's Guildhall and in front of the former HSBC premises.

The appeal hopes to raise the required amount to ensure the unveiling can take place in 2017 – the 150th anniversary of Mr Baldwin’s birth in Bewdley.

Bewdley Civic Society kick-started the appeal by presenting a cheque for £5,000 to the Appeal Company’s chief fundraiser Andrew Grant.

Mr Perrin said: “I was very pleased to tell members that the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Theresa May, had agreed to be a patron of the appeal.

“I also read out a message from the Queen's private secretary advising that the Queen was most interested in the plans and wished to be kept informed.

“Guests were delighted that Beatrice agreed to talk about her family connections. Not only is she the great-granddaughter of Stanley Baldwin she is also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and sharing her experience of this family history helped to make the event a most entertaining and interesting occasion.

“There is no statue of Stanley Baldwin anywhere in the world and this initiative is therefore long overdue.”