Go-ahead for Dame Anita's plaque

Dame Anita Roddick opened her first Body Shop in Brighton

A blue plaque tribute to the late Dame Anita Roddick has been agreed for the site of her first ever Body Shop.

Councillors in Brighton and Hove have approved plans for the memorial at 22 Kensington Gardens, in the city's North Laine cultural quarter.

Dame Anita's pioneering use of ethically-sourced cosmetics began there in 1976.

However, the £1,000 cost will be sought from public and council contributions, as well as The Body Shop itself.

Because of this the installation may have to wait until 2008 - the city council said it could only afford one a year, and Regency-era architect Charles Busby was honoured with a plaque last week.

Councillor Averil Older said: "Our head of tourism is going to write to The Body Shop in Littlehampton, to see if they'll fund [Dame Anita's plaque] or give something towards it."

She added that public donations or a contribution from the North Laine Traders' Association would also be welcomed.

Dame Anita died from a brain haemorrhage on 10 September. She was 64.

The site of her first store is now occupied by an independent opticians.