THE airline boss who personally saw off every flight should be remembered with a statue in Bournemouth, it has been proposed.

A senior Bournemouth councillor is looking at whether a statue of Peter Bath could be the first in a series of sculptures in the town centre.

Mr Bath, who died in 2006 aged 79, founded the tour operator Palmair and the travel agency Bath Travel.

Set up with one plane in 1993, Palmair grew to be rated one of the top four airlines in the world by Which? magazine, and was picked as the best short haul airline in the same survey.

A memorial is to be put at Bournemouth Airport, but Cllr Barry Goldbart, Bournemouth council's cabinet member for adult services, is suggesting a piece of public art near Bath Travel's branch in the town centre.

He said: "I heard they were going to do some sort of bust at the airport, but that wasn't the Peter Bath I remember and I think thousands of people in Bournemouth and Poole remember. I was thinking of something nearer his shop."

He said the success of Palmair under Mr Bath had helped publicise Bournemouth.

"Although Bournemouth Airport is in Christchurch, it is known as Bournemouth Airport and it all helps to put the town on the map," he said.

Mr Bath's family have indicated they would support the tribute.

Cllr Goldbart said the sculpture could be part of a trail of public art commemorating famous Bournemouth figures.

l Would you like sculptures in Bournemouth of famous figures linked to the town? Who else should be featured? Comedian Tony Hancock? Frankenstein author Mary Shelley? Film star Stewart Grainger? Comment online at bournemouthecho.co.uk, email newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk, or write to Newsdesk, Daily Echo, Richmond Hill, Bournemouth BH2 6HH.