When a former cricketer became the first black man to be awarded a life peerage in March 1969, a little piece of history was made in East Lancs.

And 50 years on from his ground-breaking elevation to the House of Lords, Learie Constantine, who played cricket for Nelson, is being remembered by journalists and politicians, not just in the Lancashire town he called home, but in London too.

Lord Learie, who lived in Nelson during his sporting years, was famous not just for being an international test cricketer but for his pioneering work with race relations, including being influential in the 1965 Race Relations Act.

He was recognised for his work when he was knighted in 1962, and in 1969 he became the first black man awarded a life peerage, taking the title of Baron Constantine of Maraval and Nelson, marking his connections to both Trinidad and to Pendle.

Lord Learie died in 1971 but is still remembered by many in East Lancs. A blue plaque is displayed outside his former Nelson home and his picture takes pride of place on the wall of Nelson Cricket Club.

He also has a portrait in the National Portrait Gallery, however, there is no artwork in Parliament to celebrate Lord Learie and his achievements.

Sports journalist, Brian Scovell, who used to write about Lord Learie, said: "There is an acute shortage of non-white people honoured by having a statue in this country.

"There are twelve statues in Parliament Square and the exceptions are Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi and neither worked and lived permanently in England.

"Learie worked from 1929-71 in the UK except for a brief period when he was a Minister in the Trinidadian Government before returning to become High Commissioner for Trinidad in London."

In 2017, along with Mr Scovell, Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson enquired with Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan about the possibility of a statue at Russell Square.

When this was rejected, Mr Stephenson raised the issue in Parliament.

The conservative MP said: "Given Lord Learie's role in the creation of the Race Relations Act and his place in history as the first black Lord I thought a tribute would be fitting in this anniversary year."

In December, Dr James Ford, Assistant Curator of the Parliamentary Art Collection confirmed they had had applied to borrow a bronze bust from the National Portrait Gallery on long-term loan.

And if agreed to, the bust will be displayed in the House of Lords to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Lord Learie's elevation on March 26 2019.

Mr Stephenson added: "I am delighted the Parliament will be remembering Lord Learie in 2019. Whilst the details of these activities are still being ironed out, it seems Learie won’t just be being remembered in Nelson, but in London too."