WORK on a lasting memorial to the 41 civilians killed in a German bombing raid on Reading during the Second World War is under way.

Sculptor Andrew Hood, 50, from Calcot, has produced sketches of what the two limestone sculptures could look like and plans to reference the Luftwaffe crew as well as the victims at the People's Pantry - a Market Place cafe hit by the two of the four 1,000lb bombs dropped from a lone Dornier plane on February 10, 1943.

Andrew will begin the carvings in the new year - the 70th anniversary of the attack - and hopes to get them placed in the alcoves at the front of St Laurence's Church, just yards from where the Pantry stood.

He said: "These people probably had nothing to do with each other until the bombing and now we all think of them as the 41 who were killed. But the bombers are also important because whilst they flew off and no-one thinks of them, they are an intrinsic part of what happened on that day."

Andrew, who trained as a stone mason and owns the McAlistair Hood workshop at Englefield Garden Centre, hopes his creations will be the first of many public works of art he creates for Reading. He wants to follow in the footsteps of Eric Stamford, who created the Spanish Civil War memorial outside the Civic Centre, and is funding the project himself, but would welcome commissions.

His efforts have been welcomed by Brian Goss, 81, who was watching The Great Mr Handel at the cinema when the bombs dropped, and said: "It is an important day in Reading's history and should be remembered. Sculptures will be a great way of doing that."

Mr Goss, who now lives in London, recalled hearing a series of loud bangs and the lights coming on. The audience was advised to remain indoors but Mr Goss headed to Market Place, where his dad Ernest owned Goss & Co insurance brokers, next to the People's Pantry.

He was delighted to see his dad alive and well and walking towards him, and said: "There were piles of glass everywhere, shop windows had blown out and buildings collapsed, it was a real mess.

"I found an engagement ring belonging to one of his senior typists in the rubble and my dad told me that when the bombs fell, he stood up and saw little holes being drilled in the ceiling. He realised the pilot was shooting and staggered back and sheltered under the desk. "

Reading Borough Council is planning to unveil a memorial plaque to mark next year's anniversary, while Reading Museum is preparing an exhibition on the raid. Email Andrew on mcalistairhood@yahoo.com