PEOPLE will pay for statues of their elected mayors to give thanks for their achievements, a Government minister hopes.

And he suggested Middlesbrough’s Ray Mallon could be among the leaders honoured – just as the town’s first mayor was put on a pedestal.

The idea comes from Greg Clark, the Middlesbrough-born cities minister, who also called for a return to the days when great industrial leaders could also be political figureheads.

Mr Clark revealed he sometimes carried around a medallion struck in 1881, to commemorate the unveiling of a statue to Middlesbrough’s first mayor – “erected by public subscription”.

And he told MPs: “He was an industrialist, an ironmaster – Bolckow was his name. There was no distinction, then, between industrial leadership and local leadership.

“There was an expectation that the people who would drive forward the local economy through their businesses would give of themselves, their time and their investments in helping to make those places successful.”

Mr Clark added: “I hope that we will get back to the time when mayors of Middlesbrough, and other great towns and cities around the country, had statues erected to them by public subscription – to thank them for their achievements.”

Asked if Mr Mallon could be given such a statue, the minister told The Northern Echo: “I think they tend to be erected posthumously, so it’s a bit early to say.”

Former mayor of Hartlepool Stuart Drummond, originally elected as Hartlepool FC mascot H’Angus the Monkey, joked that one should be erected “100ft tall in solid gold”, before going on to dismiss the idea.

He added: “I think I know what Greg Clark, who I know, is trying to get at.

“We need civic pride and respect for elected politicians who are trying their best for their communities.

"There’s so much apathy sometimes elected officials aren’t even believed. But I don’t think this idea is really going to go down too well with the public.”

Mr Clark's comments come amid a political row over George Osborne’s demand that much of the North-East accept a ‘metro mayor’ in return for a beefed-up devolution deal.

Council leaders oppose the idea, arguing it is unrealistic for a single leader to rule seven councils; County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Furthermore, the idea of mayors has a decidedly mixed record in the region, the idea having been rejected by voters in Darlington, Sunderland and Newcastle in this century.

Ray Mallon has been elected three times by voters in Middlesbrough – amid some controversy – and the system has also won acceptance in North Tyneside.

But, in Hartlepool, where Stuart Drummond also won three terms, the post was abolished after being rejected in a local referendum, in November 2012.

Len Junier, independent mayoral candidate for the forthcoming election in Middlesbrough, a political rival and critic of Mr Mallon, has also dismissed the idea.

Mr Junier said: “For me, the very fact that Ray Mallon has been discussed in the same paragraphs as Bolckow is disrespectful to Bolckow’s memory and there is surely not a serious discussion to be had. I imagine Bolckow will be turning in his grave.

“If we are to have a statue that honours the life's work of a Teessider, then let it be one of our very own Man of Steel Community Union member Geoff Waterfield to compliment the wonderful memorial in place within the Steel Works."

Mr Mallon was unavailable for comment.