£1,000 donation

Dame Judi Dench has donated £1,000 towards the campaign to erect a statue of Victoria Wood in Bury.

Her contribution takes the £20,000 appeal beyond the halfway point.

Wood's brother, Chris Foote Wood, who is behind the plans, said the 007 star’s donation was a ‘massive boost’. ‘I'm sure it will encourage more actors, comedians and other showbiz professionals to contribute,’ he added.

The plan is to erect a life-size statue of the comedian in the centre of Bury, where she was brought up and lived until she was 18. fans will be able to choose which pose she is remembered as: either sitting at a piano, or in mac and beret.

Council leader Rishi Shori previously said: ‘Victoria was a national treasure. We feel it's only right that there should be a fitting tribute to her in the borough in which she was born.’

However Wood always rejected the notion she was  a ‘national treasure’, saying: There should only ever be one at a time. For years, it was Dame Thora Hird. After she died, it was going to be Judi Dench, but then Joanna Lumley saved the Gurkhas so she got the gig.’

Wood died in April, aged 62.

Published: 12 Sep 2016