MOTORING enthusiasts are hoping plans to install a memorial to the men behind the world-renowned Morgan sports car are back on track.

The scheme to build a statue on Malvern's Link Common of Peter Morgan and his father HFS Morgan - who started the company in 1909 - was unveiled last November.

The common is opposite the original site of the factory building for the famous cars was based and the Santler Court retirement flats now stand.

However, the memorial plans hit a snag as the public relations committee of Malvern Hills Conservators - which owns the land - refused the scheme earlier this year.

But Charles Smith, Morgan Sports Car Club's vice president - who had originally hoped a memorial could be built on the site itself - said he was hopeful it might now go ahead.

Mr Smith said he believed the Conser-vators were reconsidering the proposal and hoped they would hear back in the next month or so.

"That would be second best to having something on the site itself, the idea being that HFS Morgan and Peter will be looking at the site of the old factory," he added.

"It's a pity it can't be on the site itself but it's only 50 yards away."

Meanwhile, the club has already raised more than half of the £50,000 the statue is expected to cost.

Malvern Hills District Council were unable to put a condition on the developers of Santler Court to secure a memorial on the factory site.

Mr Smith said he hoped if all went to plan the statue on Link Common could be erected within about two to three years.

But, Conservators' director Ian Rowat said the scheme was refused in January as it was illegal to build anything on the common.

"If the club bring another proposal forward to us, as long as it's six months before the last one, we'll look at it again, but we've not had a new one so far," added Mr Smith.