RESIDENTS of Liverpool jazz legend George Melly’s adopted home town are raising funds to create a statue in his honour.

Ideas are being mooted for a life-like resemblance of the flamboyant artist to perch on a riverside bench in Brecon, which would then allow fans and tourists to sit alongside.

It aims to be a fitting tribute to Melly, who died in 2007.

He used to live in the Mid-Wales town, and made his mark by helping to found its acclaimed jazz festival 25 years ago.

It is thought the statue will cost £60,000.

Fund-raiser Elizabeth Jeffreys said: “We are at the stage now where we are just about to start the process of putting together a brief for potential sculptors.

“We want it to reflect all of George’s passions – his love of fishing, what he called his ‘mistress’, jazz, and his interest in contemporary art.

“He lived here for 20 years and he brought such colour and eccentricity to the town.”

Plans for the statue are supported by Melly’s widow, Diana, who said: “We have a very close connection with Brecon.”

Mrs Melly also revealed how she and her family had coped over the last two years since her husband’s death.

Although he died of lung cancer, he also had a public battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and his family is still fund-raising for the charity which helped and supported them, For Dementia.