Margaret Thatcher Grantham statue drawings unveiled

Baroness Thatcher is standing in two of the statues but is seated in a third version

The public will have an opportunity to view the drawings online or at the museum

The statue might be located next to one of Lincolnshire-born scientific genius Isaac Newton in Grantham's town centre

A statue at London's Guildhall was decapitated in 2002 but later restored

A sculpture at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters was unveiled in 2008

Drawings of three possible statues of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher have been released by Grantham Museum.

Organisers are aiming to raise £200,000 for the statue and renovation project at the museum in Lincolnshire.

The statue's exact location has not been finalised but the museum said the drawings gave an idea of what the final version might look like.

Baroness Thatcher, who was raised in the town, died on 8 April at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke.

At present, she is commemorated in Grantham with a small plaque outside her father's former shop which records "the birthplace of the Rt Hon Margaret Thatcher MP, first woman Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".

She was born on 13 October 1925, the daughter of Grantham grocer Alfred Roberts and his wife Beatrice, and raised in the flat above the shop.

Standing or seated

Grantham Museum chairman Helen Goral said the statue would expand on the exhibits dedicated to the town's most famous daughter already at the museum.

"The opportunity for Grantham to embrace its rich heritage and exploit it for the good of the town is something that should be welcomed," she said.

"The pose and exact location of the statue is undecided, however these initial drawings give the public an indication of the possibilities for this historic project."

The drawings include two versions showing Baroness Thatcher standing and one seated.

They were created with the help of a local artist and are available to view at the museum and online.

One option is to have the statue on display inside Grantham Museum, alongside other Thatcher exhibits, with another possible location in the town's main square.

The museum is also considering erecting discs around the base of the statue engraved with Baroness Thatcher's most famous quotes.

The public would be able to take brass rubbings from the quotes as a memento of their visit.

Baroness Thatcher was the UK's first female prime minister and served three terms in that post, between 1979 and 1990.

Her funeral at St Paul's Cathedral was the biggest such occasion since the death of the Queen Mother in 2002 and drew thousands of guests from around the world.

The event also prompted a number of small protests around the UK from communities who opposed her policies.

Visitors to Grantham Museum have increased by about 300% since Baroness Thatcher died, and about 3,000 people have signed three books of condolence.

The project will be funded through private donations and the public will be asked to comment on the design.