A Virginia Woolf sculpture bench has been given the green light in a council meeting last night.

In 2017, charity Aurora Metro planned to have a life-sized figure of Virginia Woolf seated on a bench at Richmond Riverside.

Since then, the charity has been raising the £50,000 needed.

The Richmond Society initially slammed the location overlooking the riverside as the famous English author drowned herself in the River Ouse near her Sussex home.

But Richmond councillors say the riverside location is "poignant" and could encourage discussions around mental health, while also being a great tourist attraction.

Barry May, chairman of the Richmond Society said: "Virginia Woolf was a distinguished author, an icon for the feminist cause and a famous resident.

"We believe placing it on the riverside would be ill-advised, insensitive and reckless however.

"She drowned herself in a river at the age of 59 after a history of mental illness which blighted her life.

"A figure reclining on a bench gazing over the water might distress anyone who knows her story and is in a vulnerable state of mind."

Mr May also raised concerns about vandalism on the riverside.

Charlotte Banks from Aurora Metro said: "Efforts by the Richmond Society to change the location of the stature which has been chosen for many practical reasons […] comes across as an attempt to push people like her out of sight.

"The statue's intent is to celebrate diverse lives and encourage conversations around mental health feminism, sexuality and gender

"This cannot be done if the statue is tucked away on a residential street."

Conservative councillor Kate Howard said: "I think it would be very poignant to have a statue near the river as a reminder of how easily water can overcome you."

Liberal Democrat councillor, James Chard added: "It encourages discussion of mental health issues.

"People should not be defined by the existence of mental health issues that they've had and by the manner of their death and to move it away from the proposed location would be to allow Virginia Woolf to be defined in that way."

Virginia Woolf lived with her husband at Hogarth House, on Paradise Road in Richmond from 1915 to 1924.

During their time in Richmond, they founded the world-famous publishing house, Hogarth Press.

The bench was unanimously approved in Richmond Council's environment, sustainability, culture and sports committee on Wednesday evening (November 17).