PETITIONS have been launched to get two war memorials in Brentwood to get listed status.

Campaigns are under way to get the statues on Shenfield Road in Brentwood and Warley Road in Great Warley added to English Heritage’s list.

Nationally 1,300 memorials have listed status giving them protection from development and meaning they are maintained properly.

However the Government is looking to triple this number asking the public to nominate statues they want preserved.

Jill Hubbard, a former Lib Dem councillor for Warley, nominated the Great Warley memorial.

Mrs Hubbard, of Woodman Road, said: “War memorials are a special part of our heritage that keeps alive the ultimate sacrifice made by so many.

“This is really important to the community in Warley and needs to be protected for future generations.”

Liz Cohen and Phil Mynott, Lib Dem borough councillors for Shenfield and Brentwood North wards respectively, organised the Shenfield Road memorial petition.

In a joint statement, they said: “Attending Remembrance Sunday service in Brentwood this year was a moving experience and a real privilege.

“It is important that we gather to pay our respects to our armed forces who gave their lives for our country.

“As there is now a proposal to protect our war memorials and get them listed, we want to see our war memorials in Brentwood included.

“We encourage everyone in our Borough who care about remembering our war heroes to join the campaign to protect our war memorials.”

To sign the petitions, visit either www.brentwoodlibdems.org.uk/en/petition/campaign-for-warley-s-war-memorial-with-jill-hubbard or www.brentwoodlibdems.org.uk/en/petition/campaign-for-shenfield-road-war-memorial-with-cllr-liz-cohen-and-cllr-philip-mynott.