A RIBBLE Valley village will pay tribute to its war heroes with a new memorial if plans are approved by community leaders.

Parish councillors in West Bradford are looking into applying for permission for a new permanent war memorial ahead of the centenary of the end of the First World War in four years' time.

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At the latest meeting it was agreed that the matter would be looked into but it wasn't decided whether the new memorial would honour only First World War victims or those who fought in the Second World War as well.

Currently, 12 men who fought in the world wars are commemorated on a plaque inside St Catherine's CE Church in Grindleton Road.

The plan comes after Pendleton Parish Council announced plans for a new memorial plaque in the village.

Parish councillor Bill Honeywell said: "I think that it's important to look into this before the centenary of the end of the First World War in 2018.

"I think that the residents will support this idea and I hope that it gets off the ground.

"Lots of villages don't have a war memorial but I think that it's important that West Bradford has now.

"It needs to be thought of now because it's not too late for one to be organised before the centenary.

"If nothing is done now then we run the risk of running out of time which would not be good.

"The plans are at a really early stage and big decisions are still to be made.

"I expect that this issue will be brought up at a future parish council meeting for further debate."

If the parish council gives the green light to the project, plans could have to be submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council before construction takes place.

The project could follow in the footsteps of the Ribchester War Memorial Association which successfully raised funds for a new memorial which was unveiled in August.

The group campaigned for more than a year to raise the money, draw up the plans and gain planning permission.

Liz Wilkins, secretary of Ribchester group, said: "I'm thrilled that West Bradford could be about to follow in our footsteps and we would fully support them.

"They are more than welcome to get in touch if they want any advice in the future."

Parish councillor Marilyn Wood said: "It's about time that we had a public war memorial in the village and I hope that the residents get behind this idea.

"A lot of work is still to be done and this is just the first step."