Mowlam memorial mosaic unveiled

The centrepiece of the mosaic is a portrait of Mo Mowlam

A memorial mosaic celebrating the life of late MP Mo Mowlam has been formally unveiled in her former constituency.

The tribute to the ex-Redcar Labour MP, who died aged 55 in August 2005, was paid for by a £14,000 appeal fund.

The 800-tile mosaic, next to Redcar's newly-refurbished boating lake, illustrates the former Northern Ireland secretary's life and passions.

Her brother Jim Mowlam and sister Jean Jacques revealed the tribute on Friday afternoon.

The centrepiece of the circular artwork is a portrait of the former politician, which is surrounded by images including Redcar Racecourse, where she celebrated her wedding, and the local beach, where she used to walk.

PM's donation

It is positioned opposite Ms Mowlam's former home and office on Newcomen Terrace in the Coatham area.

Keith Legg, Ms Mowlam's former office manager, said: "It is an absolutely fantastic tribute, she would have laughed her head off if she got a statue or a plaque.

"As you well know, she was irreverent and she liked modernism, she was not one for tradition."

The project was organised by a working group of former Redcar and Cleveland Council mayors and councillors Peter Spencer, Madge Moses and Norah Cooney.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown was among those to make a donation to the appeal fund.

Former mayor Vilama Collins, who also acted as an election agent for Ms Mowlam, also took part in the unveiling.

Ms Mowlam, originally from Coventry, was MP for Redcar from 1987 to 2001.

She died in hospital almost three weeks after a fall at her London home, having never regained consciousness. She had previously suffered a brain tumour.

She was Northern Ireland secretary in Tony Blair's first term in government and oversaw the talks which led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.