THE daughter of much loved former Devizes Mayor Pete Smith want to start a fundraising campaign to pay for a bench in his memory to be put in Hillworth Park.

Nay Britton, who is leading the bid, is hoping someone who knows about on-line fundraising will come forward to help her set it up.

She said: "A lot of people have mentioned to me that it would be nice to do this for my dad as he did such a lot for the town. They would like to give something back to him."

She thinks Hillworth Park would be the ideal spot to put a bench as he spent a lot of time there both as part of his civic duties and with his grandchildren.

Mrs Britton said: "He loved it up there and he loved seeing the children having fun. He took my daughter there a lot and he deserves something like this as he was loved by all in Devizes. So many people thought of him as Mr Devizes."

Mr Smith died in August after suffering a heart attack at the wheel of his Wiltshire Council van aged 67. He left wife Sonia, sons Shane, 45, Matthew, 43 and Luke 40 as well as Nay, 37, and nine grandchildren Jamie, Demi, Tori, Brooke, Spencer, Sydney, Morgan, Mitchell and Lucas.

Coun Smith threw himself into everything during his two terms as mayor and was also well known as a member of the Major Wrecks male majorette group.

He joined Devizes Town Council as a member of Devizes Guardians in 2003 having moved to the town in the 1960s.

This week Devizes deputy town clerk Simon Fisher said the council itself could not pay for a memorial bench for Mr Smith but he said it would welcome one being placed in Hillworth Park.

He said: "I am sure there are many council staff and councillors who would want to personally contribute towards the fund." He said the cost of a bench which would be made to fit in with the rest of the park furniture would cost £500 and after the one-off payment would be maintained by the council.

A number of people have already responded to Mrs Britton's Facebook message about starting a fundraising campaign and want to contribute. Anyone who can help her set up the appeal should email naysmith79@live.co.uk