PLANS for a memorial to commemorate the late MP Mo Mowlam will be announced next week.

A group, led by Redcar and Cleveland Mayor Peter Spencer, will meet again on Monday to confirm the plans.

They are expected to reveal details soon after.

Dr Mowlam died in August after she battled a brain tumour for years.

She represented Redcar and Cleveland from 1987 to 2001, but was best remembered for helping to broker the Ulster peace deal when she was Northern Ireland Secretary.

Councillor Spencer and councillors Vilma Collins, Madge Moses, and Norah Cooney joined forces to come up with a memorial event and a lasting memorial in the constituency.

Councillor Spencer would not give details on the form the memorial service would take, but said it was likely to be early next month.

A concert in Dr Mowlam's memory will be held at London's Theatre Royal on November 20, which is likely to be attended by some of politics' biggest names, along with representatives from Redcar and Cleveland.

However, a national newspaper yesterday reported that Prime Minister Tony Blair would not attend, and would, instead send a recording to the concert to be shown.

Downing Street declined to be drawn on the issue, and Coun Spencer said he did not wish to comment, other than to say he would attend the event