PLANS to build a statue celebrating the sisters behind the famous nursery rhyme Twinkle, Twinkle Little star are making progress.

The statue, which could cost in the region of £80,000, would honour the Colchester sisters Jane and Ann Taylor who wrote children’s poems.

Jane’s poem called The Star, written in 1806, is now known across the world as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Sir Bob Russell, Colchester’s High Steward, has been campaigning for a life-sized statue of the two sisters to take pride of place in the town centre.

He has now lodged a planning application with Colchester Council for the statue to be placed on the wide pavement in High Street, at the junction with Pelham’s Lane.

The location has been approved by Essex Highways.

Sir Bob believes the statue would be a major tourist attraction for the town, similar to the renowned Little Mermaid statue in Denmark.

He commissioned artist Mandy Pratt to create a small model of the sculpture.

Mrs Pratt, from Ardleigh, invited Colchester Sixth Form College students Rosie Burnside-Fitch, 17, and Emma Pugh, 18, to model as Jane and Ann.

Sir Bob has been raising money for the statue through his heritage tours, and there have also been donations.

Costs to date, mainly for the small model, have been about £6,000, and a further £8,000 has been raised ahead of the appeal for funding being launched.

He hopes the cost of the statue will be met though crowdfunding and donations.

Sir Bob added: “I would prefer not to ask Colchester Council or Essex County Council, who part-funded the statue of an anonymous woman outside Fenwicks, to contribute any taxpayers’ money.

“I would dearly like this to be fully paid for by public subscription.”

Sir Bob revealed he and Mrs Pratt will be donating the intellectual copyright of the statue to the Mayor of Colchester with any proceeds from future marketing to be distributed within the borough to “good causes for children”.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star was written by Jane when she was 22. The poem was called “The Star” and comprised five verses.

  • Any cheques made payable to “Twinkle Star Fund” can be sent to Sir Bob at 35 Catchpool Road, Colchester, CO1 1XN.