A FUNDRAISING campaign is to be launched to create a memorial for Colin Dexter in the city, The Oxford Times can reveal.

Tributes have flooded in for the 86-year-old, who died peacefully on Tuesday, and there is growing support for a public memorial of some kind to honour him.

Mr Dexter became one of Oxford’s favourite sons for his crime novels featuring Endeavour Morse, the brilliant police inspector who had a love of beer, crosswords and opera music.

The 13 Morse books – set in the city – were adapted to a hugely successful television series and two spin-offs, Lewis and Endeavour, and are credited for hugely boosting tourism.

Antony Richards, founder of the Inspector Morse Society and a longtime friend of Mr Dexter's, said he hoped the memorial could be a statue but proposals would be based on how much money could be raised and what space was available.

He added: "We would certainly love to organise something and are in discussions at the moment with our members, to ask them what that could be and about setting up a fund.

"We would be interested in a statue but that may be beyond our means, so we are open to suggestions and would like anyone who thinks they can help to get in touch.

"In terms of where it could go, we would like that to be connected to Colin, rather than Morse."

Possible locations could include spaces in the city centre or possibly Summertown, where Mr Dexter worked and was a frequent visitor to the Dew Drop Inn, he added.

"I think many people would be very supportive," Mr Richards added. "There is a great deal of love for Colin in Oxford, because he gave his time to so many people and really was a brilliant man."

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price yesterday signalled the authority would also back moves to create a memorial.

He said: "Clearly, Mr Dexter was a great friend of the city and if something like that were to be proposed by a group then we would be happy to take part in discussions and support it."

Author Tim Pears, who lives in Summertown and was a friend Colin's, backed the idea.

He said: "It's a great idea, there definitely should be something to remember him by and I like the idea of a statue.

"Through his writing he's responsible for more visitors coming to the city than anyone else living here."

Theo Sloot, who works at Oxford Wine Company in Summertown and met Mr Dexter on numerous occasions, called for the memorial to be in the city centre.

He said: "He brought so much money and tourism to the city, the council should shell out for his memorial really.

"He became an institution and it should be a statue right in the city centre."