A SECOND World War Navy veteran wants a memorial moved to a town centre location - because he says too few people know it exists.

Roy Adam, 79, is battling to get the Blandford War Memorial in Salisbury Road moved to the market place.

Mr Adam, of Portman Road, Pimperne, said: "Very few people know the memorial even exists let alone come and pay their respects to the town's servicemen and women.

"If it was in the market place it would be a feature of the town."

The stone cross was erected in 1921 and carries the names of 117 men who died in the First World War.

After 1945 another 43 names were added.

Two plaques carrying the names of other war victims are erected on the wall either side of the entrance to the town hall.

Mr Adam, who is chairman of the Blandford Royal Naval Association, added: "When you see how prominent the Bournemouth and Poole memorials are, I feel something should be done in Blandford."

Former town and district councillor John Barnes is backing Mr Adam.

"If it was moved into town, it would make a nice centrepiece for visitors.

"Down near the church would be a good spot," he added.

Meanwhile, Blandford Civic Society, of which Mr Barnes is chairman, is pushing ahead with its campaign to restore the old market cross.

"We are inviting organisations including schools colleges and universities to come up with design ideas and we have got the backing of the town and district councils," he said.

Deputy mayor of Bland-ford, John Tanner, said: "It's my personal view that the war memorial remains in the cemetery as there are service personnel bur-ied there and it is an appro-priate memorial to them.

"I think the civic society's plan for a feature in the town centre is a great idea."