AN appeal has been launched for funds to complete a war memorial in Wootton Bassett in time for Remembrance Day.

The campaign to build a war memorial started four years ago when Jay Cunningham, who was then 15, realised there was an inadequate focal point for Remembrance Day parades.

Now she says that an extra £4,000 is needed to complete the project and is asking individuals and companies for more donations or someone to underwrite the extra cash.

Jay, who is an Army cadet colour sergeant with the Wootton Bassett Platoon, has been working with other volunteers, and they have so far raised just over £6,000.

This has meant that the base of the memorial was installed last year in time for the Armistice parade.

Now the War Memorial Committee set up in 1999, is looking for more money to mount a sculpture of a bronzed hand holding a globe.

Jay, now 18, said: "The design represents both the past and the concept of looking forward into the future."

She said she has received a lot of help from Guy Harris from the Royal British Legion, Susan Cooksley, the committee secretary, Jerry Cornish, a retired schoolteacher who ran the London marathon to raise cash as well as other committee members such as town councillor Audrey Wannell.

She added: "I would like people from the town to work together to provide Wootton Bassett with a memorial.

"If every household in the town gave just £1, the town would have its memorial.

"I was surprised that there was no cenotaph to commemorate the 72 people who came from Wootton Bassett and gave their lives for us during both wars.

"At this time I was nearly 15, and after the November Armistice parade I asked the Royal British Legion why a cardboard cenotaph was used as the focal point for the High Street ceremony."

The public voted for the final design after the committee held a competition in 1999.

Jay, who is also a senior instructor with the Army cadets, added: "The winning design actually came from one of my cadets, Lance Corp Alan Wilson from the Wootton Bassett detach-ment."

There are no names on the memorial because of the cost. But there is a scroll inside listing the names of those who died.

To help the appeal contact Susan Cooksley on (01793) 855241.