A DESIGN for a statue of Inspector Morse creator Colin Dexter has been revealed for the first time.

The author, whose 13 Morse novels inspired the Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour TV 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 last month for a weekend of events and a £50,000 memorial fund was launched on Friday - Colin Dexter’s birthday - to cover the cost of the statue.

Dr Antony Richards, who is hoping the statue will be in place by 2020 as part of a redevelopment of Diamond Place, said he was pleased with the design drawn up by sculptor Alex Wenham.

Dr Richards, who has written an Inspector Morse novel called Dead Man’s Walk as fan fiction, said: “I’m delighted that Alex has come up with these drawings of what the statue could look like once it is completed.

“Of course it’s early days so the finished statue might not look exactly like this but the drawings give a good indication of what the tribiute is going to look like.

“Alex thought it was important that the statue should feature Colin standing and it shows him leaning against a pile of books.

“I would like it if we added in the titles of all the Inspector Morse novels.”

Dr Richards said donations have started to come in after the memorial fund was launched on the website inspector-morse.com

He added: “About 40 people have sent in small donations so far and we have raised about £250.

“Of course there is a long way to go and we are hoping there will be significant donations from ITV, which screened the Inspector Morse series and Lewis and Endeavour, and Colin’s publishers Pan Macmillan.”

The statue is expected to incorporate a crossword puzzle as Mr Dexter enjoyed setting and completing crosswords.