THE campaign to immortalise Lyme Regis' most famous fossil hunter is back on track following a delay.

Following a successful fundraising campaign, plans have been in place to unveil a statue of palaeontologist Mary Anning in the resort on what would have been her 222nd birthday, on May 21 2022.

In order to have the statue ready, sculptor Denise Dutton will need to start work by the end of August.

Campaigners feared this would not be possible after accusing Dorset Council of delaying the process and being 'too busy' to deal with it. Since then however there has been more positive signals from the council.

More than £100,000 has been raised over the course of the campaign, started by local schoolgirl Evie Swire and her mother Anya Pearson.

The proposed site for the statue, next to the Marine Theatre, is leased by Dorset Council to South West Water and the council needs to ensure the statue will not cause an obstruction before a planning application is submitted and the statue is cast.

Ms Pearson claimed some emails to the council about the issue were ignored. She also claimed she was told by a council employee the authority was 'far too busy' and 'didn't have the time to deal with it'.

She later received a phone call from Ben Lancaster, senior land agent at Dorset Council, who apologised and said he would try his hardest to see the project through to fruition.

Ms Pearson said: "It was very frustrating, I've been doing this for three years and I can tell when people aren't interested and don't fully understand or comprehend who (Mary Anning) is.

"The hard work has been done, this should have been the simple part but it was one of the most stressful.

"Unfortunately I had to tell some of our followers who had booked their flights for next May that it was unlikely we would hit that date."

South West Water use the proposed site to turn their trucks around, so a survey is being carried out to ensure the sculpture will not impact this practice.

Alongside Ms Pearson's conversations with Mr Lancaster, Bournemouth-based town planners Terence O'Rourke have also offered to assist pro bono.

Ms Pearson added: "It's fantastic that they've stepped in to help us. Ben (Lancaster) has also absolutely incredible and (Lyme councillor) Daryl Turner has also been very helpful.

"I'm feeling very positive about it again now, we're moving in the right direction again."

A Dorset Council spokesman said: “We are now in contact with (the campaign group) and have established a good working relationship. We are currently awaiting confirmation from our tenant, South West Water, that the proposed location of the statue is workable for them.

“The charity can access pre-application advice to help make the application, when it’s submitted, progress as smoothly as possible.”