A STATUE of trailblazing former Blackburn MP Barbara Castle will be unveiled at the centre of the town’s new Jubilee Square on what would have been her 110th birthday.

Blackburn with Darwen Council bosses will officially unveil the statue in a special ceremony on October 6.

Cllr Maureen Bateson, executive member for children, young people and education, said: “Barbara Castle was a trailblazer for women everywhere.

“The statue will represent all that she did and will ensure that her memory lives on – inspiring future generations.

“We hope it will draw visitors to the town and also address the distinct lack of statues of women in the county and right across the country while celebrating the area’s rich heritage. I’d like to thank everyone that has donated so far to help bring the ‘Baroness’ to Blackburn.

“We’re now almost halfway there with the fundraising, but there’s still more to do and I’d encourage supporters to donate what they can.”

To pay for the bronze sculpture in Jubilee Square, in front of Blackburn College as part of the new Blakey Moor heritage quarter, the appeal needs to raise £69,000.

Sculptor, Sam Holland, is in the process of finishing the statue ready for the reveal date. She is currently adding clothing and has been keen to ensure that she has captured Barbara Castle’s style.

She employed the expertise of Angels Costumier in London who were able to pinpoint an exact historical clothing match for her to use as reference. The statue, which depicts a young Barbara striding purposefully, will be the centrepiece of Jubilee Square in Northgate.

Sam said: “Researching Barbara opened my eyes and heart to the woman herself.

“Barbara’s arguments, passion and social conscience engaged me but her resilience in pushing through the Equal Pay Act cemented her as my lifelong heroine.

“I’ve watched films, poured over photographs and read every biography and autobiography about Baroness Castle but its only in speaking to people in the local community where you get a true sense of her greatness.”

The announcement comes as posters of Barbara Castle will be popping up all over Blackburn and Darwen for International Women’s Day. The former Blackburn MP will take a starring role in the borough’s bus shelters and digital screens helping to promote the global celebration of women locally on Sunday.

The ads will support the campaign to create a statue of Barbara, in the run up to its unveiling.

Her career was recently captured as part of the Netflix hit series ‘The Crown’ and the BBC’s ‘The Trial of Christine Keeler.’

The campaign has recently been supported by actor Maxine Peake - known for her roles in Black Mirror, The Theory of Everything and the BBC classic Dinnerladies - as well as director of 2010 film Made in Dagenham, Nigel Cole. It was also backed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and former Prime Minister Theresa May.

The public donation page is gofundme.com/barbaracastle