A COMMEMORATIVE bench will be installed in Workington to pay tribute to one of the town's characters.

Malcolm Bishop died in November, councillors in the town have now voted unanimously to have a memorial bench installed in his honour.

In a motion put forward jointly by Labour Councillor David Farrer and Mayor Herbert Briggs, the council agreed to build the 'talking bench' in Mr Bishops memory.

The bench will also include a plaque with a poem written by Workington poet John Hastings, entitled 'Our Malcolm Workington's Best friend.'

Councillor Farrer said: "Malcolm has been a character around for a number of years, everybody held him in great respect.

"He never had a bad bone in his body or a bad word to say about anyone, I have very found memories of him selling newspapers, helping the market traders or even just having a cuppa outside of Gregg's.

"He was just a very strong character and I think one of the very few characters that we still have left.

"Some people in Workington had the idea to do a bench and I thought I would put it forward to the town council.

"I think even though we have our political differences we are united in respect for Malcolm."