THOSE who have lost loved ones in road crashes are appealing for cash help so they can erect a lasting memorial to Wyre Forest accident victims.

A trio of mums - Shirley Caswell, Pat Harvey and Kath Eaton - are leading the calls for donations to the £2,000 appeal.

They want to see a permanent tribute which will also act as a warning to road-users to be aware of the consequences of poor driving.

The parents are all members of the district branch of the charity RoadPeace, set up to support bereaved families and to lobby the Government and justice system to bring down the toll of death and serious injury on the roads.

The group has just been given permission by the council to erect a metres-high memorial stone, which will be engraved with red flowers on a black background, at the front of St Mary's Church in Kidderminster, close to the war memorial.

But they need in the region of £2,000 to cover the costs of engraving, groundwork and landscaping.

The national charity has launched a 'Remember Me' campaign, which aims to put up small plaques around the country at roadside locations where someone has been killed or seriously injured.

Kath Eaton, whose son David was killed in a motorbike crash four years ago, said: "We are concerned that, with so many people affected in Wyre Forest, there is nowhere to act as a central point to remember our loved ones.

"We also believe that such a memorial would act as a focus to remind all road users of the tragedies which can occur."

Shirley Caswell's soldier daughter Melanie Byrne died five years ago, at the age of 21, when the Army truck she was a passenger in crashed as it returned from a two-day exercise.

Shirley, of Hurcott Road, Kidderminster, is still fighting for answers and justice from the Army, with her case featuring on a recent Channel 4 documentary Casualties of Peace.

She said: "My daughter died near Reading - to have a memorial in the town would be an enormous help. It will also be in a prominent location and will hopefully make people think twice about the way they drive and the possible consequences."

Pat Harvey, of George Street, also Kidderminster, suffered a double tragedy when her only daughter Debbie Mason, then 33, and four-year-old granddaughter Molly died in a horrific car accident in Hereford last year. A driver involved in the collision has been charged with causing the deaths by dangerous driving.

"It is really important to us to have this memorial in place. Losing someone you love in this way is really awful - in some ways it has got worse as time has gone by," she said.

Anyone who can help should contact Kath or Bob Eaton on 01299 402503.