Disabled artist Alison Lapper was flabbergasted today after learning a naked statue of her could be positioned in Trafalgar Square.

Ms Lapper, who was born with no arms, had not been warned a sculpture of her had been shortlisted for one of London's most famous tourist sites.

The mother, who lives in Shoreham Beach, posed for sculptor Marc Quinn in 1999, shortly before giving birth.

Although she has seen the work at Tate Liverpool, she said she had no idea Mr Quinn was hoping to make a larger version out of marble to stand on the vacant plinth in Trafalgar Square.

When told by The Argus today she said: "I'm stunned - I would have liked him at least to discuss this with me. I need to phone Marc and ask what's going on here.

"But it would be amazing to see it and would be one up for the disabled. It does my profile no harm, either."

The marble sculpture of Ms Lapper, 37, who was born without arms and with only partially-formed legs and feet, is on a controversial shortlist of contemporary art works chosen for one of London's most famous tourist sites.

Artist Mr Quinn made headlines when he took nine pints of his own blood to create a refrigerated cast of his head and sold it to Charles Saatchi.

The shortlist has faced fierce criticism as many call for the vacant plinth, one of four which surrounds 185ft Nelson's Column, to be filled with a more conservative work of art.

Suggestions have included a statue of the late Queen Mother or a sculpture of England's rugby world cup hero Jonny Wilkinson.

Other smaller statues in Trafalgar Square include commanders General Charles Napier, Major General Sir Henry Havelock and George IV.

However, the naked form of Ms Lapper, made an MBE in this year's New Year honours, was among chosen works of art commissioned by London mayor Ken Livingstone for the plinth, which was left vacant in 1841 when money for an equestrian statue ran out.

The 14ft marble sculpture of Ms Lapper is up against a toy skyscraper, two wooden cruise missiles, a Perspex pigeon loft, a series of steel anti-war figures and a car covered in bird droppings.

Ms Lapper has produced a number of works, many relating directly to her disability She gained a first-class degree in fine art from Brighton University and has won admiration for the way she has brought up her young son Parys and not let her disability interfere with her life.

Mr Quinn, 39, said: "At first glance it would seem that there are few if any public sculptures of people with disabilities.

"However, a closer look reveals that Trafalgar Square is one of the few public spaces where one exists - Nelson on top of his column has lost an arm.

"I think that Alison's portrait reactivates this dormant aspect of Trafalgar Square.

"Most public sculpture, especially in the Trafalgar Square and Whitehall areas, is triumphant male statuary.

"Nelson's Column is the epitome of a phallic male monument and I felt that the square needed some femininity, linking with Boudicca near the Houses of Parliament.

"Alison's statue could represent a new model of female heroism. I'm not physically disabled myself but from working with disabled sitters I realised how hidden different bodies are in public life and media. Her pregnancy also makes this a monument to the possibilities of the future."

In 1998, the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) commissioned a series of three temporary sculptures to stand on the vacant fourth plinth.

The Greater London Authority and the Arts Council are providing more than £80,000 for a new work to stand in the north-west corner of Trafalgar Square for up to 18 months.

The decision on the work for the fourth plinth will be made by a panel of judges including newsreader Jon Snow and artist Bill Woodrow, whose work Regardless Of History was displayed there in 2000.