THE memory of 15 World War One soldiers will live on after a council promised that the monument bearing their names will stay in Darwen.

The news came a day after it was revealed that the 15ft-high stone memorial in the garden of the old Park Road Methodist Church was being relocated to a museum 100 miles away.

It is still being moved tomorrow, but instead of being taken to the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, it will be put in storage until a place in Darwen can be found for it.

The Methodist Church could not afford the thousands of pounds it would cost to move the memorial and had nowhere to put it.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, saidhas promised the council will find the money needed to keep it locally.

He said: "We promise that this monument to 15 of the people from Darwen who lost their lives during the Great War will stay in its home town.

"After listening to the people of Darwen, we can reassure them we will re-site this in a fitting manner so that it will be a lasting tribute to these local men."

Brian Thompson, president of the Darwen branch of the Royal British Legion, today spoke of his delight at the development. He said: "We are very pleased that it is staying in the town. Having the memorial makes sure that those who gave their lives are never forgotten in the town. I have spoken to our other members and everyone was of the same opinion that we want it in the town centre somewhere.

"It would be good outside the town hall. We have memorials in Darwen but not a cenotaph. We put up a plinth cenotaph, so if it was put somewhere prominent, it could become a focal point, although I would have to speak to other members about that."

Coun Karimeh Foster, of the Whitehall ward, which includes the old church, started the campaign to save the memorial after demanding it stay in the town, during a meeting with the council's chief executive. She said: "I am very happy. If they could put it in Whitehall Park that would be great, although it might be difficult to get the machinery in there. I would really like to see it outside the town hall."

A businessman bought the church about 20 years ago. He decided he did not want the memorial in his garden, but was unable to get the local council or methodist church to take it at the time.

Instead, he negotiated with the Friends of War Memorials, a national organisation which protects the monuments and was trying to do the best by letting them take it to Staffordshire.

At the arboretum, the memorial would have been constantly looked after, thanks to a maintenance grant. But he is delighted that, after two decades of uncertainty, the memorial is staying in Darwen.

The businessman, who did not want to be named, said: "It is a great solution. They have not given me a definite answer on where it will be.

"It will be some job to move it. They are bringing a crane to hoist it."