LOUGHTON town council is appealing to the public to come forward with the names of those they would like to see on a plaque commemorating Loughton's civilian casualties of the Second World War.

The council already has a list of names gathered through its own research, but says it hopes, with the local community's help, it will be able to compile a more complete list.

Loughton town council's projects and properties officer Paul Roden said: "We're asking people to contact us with names as another way of finding out information. If someone contacts us with a name then we can see if we have it already, or if it needs to be added."

The possibilty of erecting a memorial to those who died was first discussed last year, when resident Norma Cross requested the council consider dedicating a plaque to Ben Platten, a well-known Labour man who died with three others when an anti-aircraft shell landed outside Loughton police station in 1941. He was on duty as a voluntary air raid warden at the time. The council instead suggested it would research the commissioning of a monument to all those who lost their lives in the war. Since then some 35 names have been added to the list.

Councillor Chris Pond said: "The Second World War was the first conflict in which civilians were in the front line, and were as likely to be killed as service personnel. Our records are not as complete as they might be, and we hope that by asking the public in advance we will make the memorial as complete as we can."

The council also hopes to attract sponsorship from local groups, or residents who would like to give something towards the cost of the memorial.

The cost will be determined by the number of names on the final list. At present it is estimated the memorial will cost about £1,800, based on the current number of names.

The money will come out of the heritage plaque and contingency funds for 2003-04. Essex Police has agreed, in principle, that the plaque can be fixed outside Loughton police station.

Names should be put forward to the town council by Friday, May 14.