Playwright Harold Pinter could be honoured by a blue plaque in the Sussex town where he used to live.

Pinter, who died of cancer on Christmas Eve, aged 78, lived with his family in Ambrose Place, Worthing, during the early 1960s.

Pinter, whose works included The Birthday Party and The Caretaker, came to Worthing for a more peaceful life.

He stayed for about 18 months before problems with commuting back and forth to work in London forced him to move nearer the capital.

While residing in Worthing, firefighters rescued his son's cat from the roof of their home.

Worthing historian Chris Hare backed the idea of a plaque on Pinter's former Regency townhouse home, which is a listed building.

He said: “I would imagine the town would want to recognise his stay in Worthing.”

Tony Malone, spokesman for the Worthing Society conservation group, said: “I think he is a good candidate for a plaque.

“I am surprised nothing has happened before.”

Stars have paid tribute to Pinter, who in later life became a Left Wing political activist and harsh critic of the Iraq War.

Actress and MP Glenda Jackson said his death was a great loss to the theatre and to people who fought for human rights.

Another famous playwright with close links to Worthing already has a plaque on the site of The Esplanade, overlooking East Worthing seafront, where in 1894 Oscar Wilde wrote The Importance of Being Earnest.