A public appeal to create a monument to Yorkshire cricket icon, Fred Trueman, is to be unveiled next month at the ground where he played some of his most memorable games.

Yorkshire cricket greats, including Darren Gough and Ray Illingworth, will gather at Headingley, on Monday, June 25, as the fundraiser is started by TV chat show host Michael Parkinson.

It will be followed by a 20-20 match between old rivals Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The day will also be a double honour for the cricket legend who lived at Flasby, near Skipton, and who died last July, aged 75, Earlier in the day, Northern Rail will name a train after him at Leeds station.

A 13-inch-high model - a maquette - has already been produced by leading British sculptor, Graham Ibbeson and approved by Fred's wife Veronica.

The finished statue will be eight foot tall and show him in fearsome full-stride as he runs in to bowl.

It is to be put up outside Skipton Town Hall in High Street next spring.

The project is being spearheaded by Northern Rail's education wing, Northern Arts Zone, and has the backing of Craven District Council, Yorkshire Cricket and Mrs Trueman.

The aim is to link the creation of the statue with an education programme to encourage youngsters to get involved in the arts.

The initial target is to raise about £80,000 by public subscription, but organisers expect it to attract more money to fund the education programme.

A charitable Fred Trueman Trust is to be set up and scale models of the original statue, either made of bronze or a resin, will be offered for sale.

Chris Leech, Northern Rail's youth and community liaison manager, said: "This is not a statue which will be made under cover in a studio - we will be getting the community involved.

"Graham will be holding various workshops, going out to schools and communities, to show how the statue is developed.

"We believe Fred would have been very proud to know that something like this connected to his name is being put back into the community in sport and art."

Mr Ibbeson, famous for his statue of comedian Eric Morecambe in Morecambe, said: "It's important to get the community involved and get young people interested in art and sculpture.

"I want people to come along to my workshops to see how the statue is made.

"I will be producing a fibre glass replica of the full sized statue which will be in sections to demonstrate part of the process.

"I have tried to capture the true essence of the man. Fred is bent double having just finished bowling.

"He looks real scary - it's the view the batsmen would have had as he released the ball - they would have been shaking in their boots."

He had reproduced the famous Fred quiff and the lose shirt sleeve which flapped about on his delivery.

"It shows Fred's determination, honesty and frankness - his true Yorkshire spirit," Mr Ibbeson added.

The finished bronze, which because of its pose would stand about five feet high, would be placed on a four feet high plinth.

Fred, known as Fiery Fred in his heyday, is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history and was the first to take 300 wickets.

He was brought up near Malby in South Yorkshire, but lived much of his life in the Yorkshire Dales and regarded Skipton as his home town.

e-mail: clive.white @bradford.newsquest.co.uk