THE campaign to get a plaque installed on Billericay’s war memorial to honour the town’s victims of the 9/11 and 7/7 atrocities is gathering pace.

Town councillor Terry Gandy wants a fitting tribute to both Michele Beale and Carrie Taylor who perished in the respective attacks, fixed onto the war memorial at the corner of Chapel Street and High Street.

Mr Gandy, who represents the town’s West Ward, was left fuming last year after town councillors rejected the idea of the plaque, citing problems over the war memorial being an A-listed building as reasons for refusal.

However Mr Gandy has continued the fight and has now got supermarket giants Waitrose to say they will stump up the £500 needed for the plaque.

He said: “I’m not going to drop this. I’m getting names together for people who will support it and will put it before the council again.

“It’s remarkable for a town the size of Billericay we had victims in the two worst terrorist attacks in our lifetime and that’s something that should be remembered locally.”

Carrie Taylor, 24 of Uplands Road, Billericay, died in the July 7 Aldgate tube bombing.

Michele Beale, 37, of Hillhouse Road, Billericay, perished in the twin towers on September 11. A director with London-based Risk Waters, Michele was attending a conference at the World Trade Centre in New York.

Carrie’s parents June, 60, and John, 58, also of Uplands Road, are supporting Mr Gandy and were “disgusted” with town council’s original decision.

Mr Gandy added: “Every September 11 since the attacks Michele’s best friend has come down to the town to put flowers on the war memorial for Michele.

“I have spoken to her on numerous occasions and she has told me how every year she hopes she’ll come and see a plaque fixed onto the memorial.

“It’s a very modest plaque, it wouldn’t take anything away from the war memorial itself and now Waitrose has said they will pay for it. I just can’t see any problem.”