MAJOR General Sir Henry Havelock once famously told his troops: "Soldiers . . . your valour will not be forgotten by a grateful country."

And so it has proved.

For 140 years, Gen Havelock's statue has looked on impassively at the millions of tourists - and an equal number of pigeons - who have visited London's Trafalgar Square.

But times are changing and Gen Havelock is threatened with being pulled down to make way for someone "who ordinary Londoners would know".

Mayor Ken Livingstone wants to relocate the statue - preferably out of London.

But Mr Livingstone, who also wants the statue of General Sir Charles Napier removed from Trafalgar Square, faces stiff opposition from people living in Sir Henry's native North-East.

The general, who died in 1857, was born in Sunderland and many of his family settled in Darlington.

Sunderland City Council leader Colin Anderson told The Northern Echo last night that he thought Mr Livingstone's comments were "diabolical".

"The problem is that people in London think they are living in the centre of the world and do not realise that Henry Havelock is a great Victorian hero, who is an important part of British history," he said.

"He was an impeccable soldier and the North-East is proud of his achievements.

"It would be wonderful if his statue came back home but that won't happen because he is staying in Trafalgar Square."

There is already a statue to Sir Henry in Mowbray Park, Sunderland, and the only memorial to him in County Durham is in St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington.

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said: "The Havelock family is well known in Darlington and, although we believe Sir Henry's rightful place is in Trafalgar Square, it would be fitting that if his statue does go anywhere it will be the North-East.