CALLS have been made for a new river crossing to bear the name of a town's forgotten son.

Councillor Ken Lupton, the leader of the Conservative group on Stockton Borough Council, would like to see a multi-million pound footbridge, planned as part of the town's North Shore development, named the Bold as Brass Bridge, after Brass Crosby.

Crosby was brought up in Norton, Stockton, and became Lord Mayor of London.

In 1771, as Lord Mayor and chief magistrate, he had a printer brought before him, in trouble for printing details of a Parliamentary debate.

The MPs wanted him punished for having the temerity to report the proceedings, but Crosby ruled that the printer had done nothing wrong and that Parliamentary debates should be reported. Hence Hansard, the official verbatim report of proceedings in the House of Commons, was born.

Crosby also opposed press gangs and slavery, and at one point upset King George III.

It was his willingness to stand up to Parliament that led to the saying "bold as brass".

But despite his contribution to democracy, there is nothing to celebrate his achievements in his home town, not even a plaque on a wall.

Coun Lupton said: "I have suggested that we call the new footbridge the Bold as Brass Bridge, because of its shape and to commemorate the life and times of Brass Crosby."

He said he had put the suggestion forward, informally, to Tees Valley Regeneration, which is behind the North Shore development.

Coun Suzanne Fletcher, last year's Mayor of Stockton, is leading a campaign to have a commemoration to Crosby in the town. She also plans to write a book about his life.

She said: "I think Ken's idea for the bridge is absolutely brilliant. It would be very fitting for somebody who made a big difference by bridging the gap between Parliament and the people.

"I think it is very important that our area is proud of people who came from here."