A STATUE to commemorate the man who created the world's first municipal fire service is likely to be erected close to the Royal Mile within the next few months.

The campaign to erect a bronze statue to James Braidwood, the city's first chief fire officer, started more than three years ago.

Campaigners say talks with the council's planning department are taking place, with a site at Hunter Square the most likely location for the statue.

They expect to hear "within weeks" what the best location for the statue will be, allowing them to press ahead with organising its placing and unveiling.

Parliament Square, a site close to where the first fire station was founded and which was ruled out by the council earlier this year, is still a possibility.

The statue campaign was started by 92-year-old former Edinburgh firemaster Frank Rushbrook, who said he was thrilled with the progress now being made.

"We have met the planning department and we are now very hopeful that we will get a site on the Royal Mile," he said.

"We have been looking at a spot in Hunter Square, although there is still talk that we could get a site on Parliament Square.

"I started this three years ago, so I am just hopeful that we can push on and get the statue in place later this year, possibly as early as June or July.

"While there is still some work to be done, I understand we will be given a suitable location by the council's planning department within the next few weeks."

Braidwood founded the world's first municipal fire brigade in 1824 after a series of disastrous fires in the Capital, before becoming the first superintendent of London's fire brigade when it was founded in 1833.

He died in a fire near London Bridge Station in 1861, but his methods are still used to teach firefighters to this day.

The seven-foot memorial statue has already been completed by renowned Scottish sculptor Kenny Mackay, whose most famous work to date is of Donald Dewar in Glasgow.

The council's Pensions and Trusts Committee agreed in 2005 to provide £10,000 towards the creation of the statue, which has cost just over £60,000 and which council officials said would also serve "as recognition of the meritorious service of firefighters of the Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade".

A council spokeswoman said: "We are currently considering a number of potential sites for the commemorative statue of James Braidwood. This includes a site near the High Street which we hope will be acceptable to Mr Rushbrook. We would hope that the statue will be in place in the near future with a formal unveiling later in the year."

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