A PARISH council has decided to delay a decision whether to place an executed soldier's name on its war memorial.

Shoreham Parish Council met last night and discussed the case of Private Thomas Highgate, who was executed for desertion during the First World War.

Councillors decided to wait and see whether a Government bill pardoning 306 executed soldiers gets Parliamentary backing.

They felt without the bill coming into law, there was little point on deciding on the merits of Pte Highgate's case.

When the village's war memorial was refurbished in 2000, councillors stated that if Pte Highgate was ever pardoned, his name would be added.

Parish council chairman Councillor John Keates said: "As far as this council is concerned nothing has really changed.

"I recommend writing to the British Legion to ask for their position on the matter."

The soldier's great nephew, Terence Highgate, of Northumberland Park, Erith, has repeatedly called for his relative's name to be added.

He said: "As long as the council haven't said no, there is always hope that his name will be put on the memorial.

"We will have to wait and see what happens when the pardon goes through parliament, when it does they will have to finally decide once and for all, yes or no."

The decision to place Pte Highgate's name on the Memorial in Shoreham is also a joint matter for the British Legion to discuss.