Road to be named after Busby Babe

A statue of Duncan Edwards already stands in Dudley

A Black Country commuter route could be renamed in memory of one of the area's football heroes.

Duncan Edwards died in 1958, after 15 days battling injuries he suffered in the Munich air crash which killed seven of his Manchester United team-mates.

His home town of Dudley has a statue of Edwards, who was 21 when he died, but the council is considering renaming the southern bypass Duncan Edwards Way.

Dudley mayor Ray Burston said Edwards had a lasting impact on the town.

Charlton's hero

Edwards, who won 18 England caps, grew up in The Priory, Dudley, and is buried in the town's cemetery.

Duncan Edwards was 21 when he died, but already had 18 England caps

The Manchester United players, known as the Busby Babes, were returning from a European Cup match in Belgrade when the accident happened on 6 February 1958.

Fellow United player Bobby Charlton, who survived the crash and went on to play in the England team which won the World Cup in 1966, described Edwards as his hero.

A memorial ceremony was held by the statue in Dudley in February, to mark the 50th anniversary of the crash.

Councillors are set to give the road name plans the go-ahead at a meeting this week.