Artists, engineers, writers, sportsmen and scientists are among those included on a list of candidates to increase the number of the plaques in the town.

But money and reluctance from people who own the buildings in question have been cited as hurdles that may prevent the memorials going up.

The Leamington Building Preservation Trust has approached Leamington Town Council to propose creating more of the plaques.

The council's cultural and community committee voted on Tuesday for plaques commemorating forensic scientist Sir Bernard Spilsbury, Leamington engineer William de Normanville, artist Sir Terry Frost and novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Committee chairman Coun Roger Copping believes the plaques would attract tourists interested in the lives and achievements of those commemorated, but property owners were often reluctant to take part. He said: "Although we would like to have more blue plaques, residents aren't always compliant. We have a lot of trouble getting people to agree to have the plaques on their homes or premises."

Nathaniel Hawthorne, jet engine designer Sir Frank Whittle and Charles Dickens, who visited and read in the town on several occasions, are among Coun Copping's candidates but he said occultist Aleister Crowley's continuing notoriety as 'the wickedest man in the world' meant councillors felt he was less suitable than those chosen.

The committee hopes to fund two or possibly four of the £450 plaques in the coming financial year. The building preservation trust would research the sites, ask owners for permission and pay some of the cost.

Its chairman Judy Ross cited pathologist Sir Bernard Spilsbury, artist Sir Terry Frost and Leamington engineer William de Normanville as those she would celebrate.

She said: "There are people who are internationally renowned who people do not realise were born in Leamington.

"It is of interest to tourists and would give neighbours and residents esteem in their parts of the town."

Leamington historian Alan Griffin believes jet engine designer Sir Frank Whittle, who grew up and went to school in Leamington should be commemorated, and also suggested the poet, writer and critic DJ Enright, who lived in Bath Street, as another candidate.

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