THE area around a statue of Inspector Morse creator Colin Dexter in Oxford could be named Dexter Square, it has emerged.

The author, whose 13 Morse novels inspired the Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour series, died in March aged 86.

Following his death the Inspector Morse Society agreed to launch plans for a commemorative statue in Diamond Place, Summertown.

Members of the society gathered for an annual weekend of events and a £50,000 memorial fund was launched to cover the cost of the statue.

And at a dinner at St Edmund Hall chairman of the society, Dr Antony Richards also launched his new novel, Dead Man's Walk, a fan fiction tribute to Mr Dexter, which features a young Endeavour Morse in the 1970s.

Dr Richards, who is hoping the statue will be in place by 2020 as part of a redevelopment of Diamond Place, said: "The city council is backing our proposals and we think an area could be created around the statue called Dexter Square.

"Our idea is that the statue will incorporate a crossword puzzle as Colin loved setting crosswords and completing them himself.

"The area could be a peaceful little enclave with benches around the statue - I think that would be a lovely tribute.

"Of course Colin has already had a road named after him in Middlesex near a former Territorial Army centre where Oxford police station scenes were filmed."

Dr Richards said the society's annual weekend meeting was the first in Oxford without Mr Dexter.

He added: "Last year's meeting was in Cambridge and Colin was too ill to attend but two years ago in Oxford he made a special effort to come along for an hour and was given a standing ovation.

"He had been to every single annual meeting since 1995 so of course this time he was sadly missed."

At the society dinner at St Edmund Hall guests of honour were former staff from Oxford examination board who were once colleagues of Mr Dexter.

Dr Richards said Mr Dexter had given him advice on how to structure the plot of Dead Man's Walk.

Dr Richards added: "The plot was wholly mine but Colin was kind enough to advise me on some little details."

More than 50 copies of the new novel were sold over the weekend and it will go on sale price £8.99 from September 29, Mr Dexter's birthday.

Part of the proceeds from the sale of each novel, being published through Dr Richards' own company The Irregular Special Press, will go towards the memorial fund.

While members of the society have already been making donations to the fund, it will be opened to the public on September 29 via the website inspector-morse.com

Dr Richards is hoping that ITV and publishers Pan Macmillan will contribute towards the cost of the statue, with Kennington-based sculptor Alex Wenham being lined up to create the statue.