An MP is calling for a statue of the longest living First World War veteran to be built.

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown, has written to the government’s Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon MP, asking him to consider building a publically funded statue of the late Henry Allingham.

Mr Allingham, who died in 2009 aged 113, was the last surviving veteran of the Great War having served in the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force.

He lived in Eastbourne for many years in his later life before moving to Ovingdean.

The statue, Mr Kirby has said, should be built in Whitehall.