A MEMORIAL plaque commemorating the life of a Clitheroe adventurer has attracted complaints that it is too high to read.

Clitheroe Civic Society has submitted an application to Ribble Valley Borough Council to lower the plaque for naval Captain James King, which is attached to the Yorkshire Bank building in Market Place, by over two feet.

Born in Clitheroe in 1750, Captain King was educated at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School before joining the navy and serving with Captain James Cook on his famous voyage to the Pacific in 1779.

Pauline Wood, chairman of the Civic Society, said: “I have spoken to many people in Clitheroe who have said that they did not even know that the plaque was there.

“It does not serve its function in that position.

“The writing on it is really quite small and almost impossible to read and it would make a real difference if it was moved down so more people could see it.

“It’s only a matter of time until it gets moved to a better place and I can’t think of anyone who would oppose it."

Clitheroe Town councillor, Simon O’Rourke, said: “I agree that it should be lowered because at the moment people like myself using wheelchairs can’t see it.

“Residents who are visually impaired are also cut off from it.

“He was a great Clitheroe figure and the plaque deserves to be in a better position.”

Captain King joined the Royal Navy as a 12-year-old midshipman and set sail with Cook in 1776 aboard HMS Resolution as a lieutenant.

And after surviving several encounters with cannibals and near-kidnap, they finally reached The Sandwich Islands, now known as Hawaii.

When he returned to England four years later he was named as captain of the famous ship HMS Discovery.