BRITAIN'S first pin-up girl is set for a place of honour in a hall of fame which will salute a Hampshire town's famous sons and daughters.

Christabel Leighton-Porter won overnight stardom after becoming the sexy heroine in the Daily Mirror's Jane cartoon.

As Christabel Drewry - the youngest of a family of 11 children - she grew up in a terraced house in Eastleigh town centre.

Her role in the famous cartoon strip turned her into a household name.

And she was once described by wartime leader Winston Churchill as Britain's "secret weapon" because her saucy pin-up pictures raised the spirits of our D-Day troops.

Earlier this month Christabel died at the age of 87 and had been due to be interviewed for Eastleigh's Hall of Fame project.

But plans are going ahead to include the "gorgeous Eastleigh blonde," who put the town on the glamour map.

On behalf of the people of Eastleigh, Kathleen Clarke, a member of the hall of fame panel and friend of the former model, sent a letter to Christabel's widower.

Christabel will join other local legends from the world of entertainment like comedian Benny Hill and 60s pop star Heinz Burt.

Names in the frame from the world of sport are 1932 Olympic gold medal winner Tommy Green and British middleweight boxing champion Vince Haw-kins.

Other local sporting heroes include British bowls champion George Wright, Commonwealth Games bronze medal decathlete Alan Drayton, tennis star Chris Wilkinson and Michael Uzebu who moved to Eastleigh in 1941 from Nigeria after winning a Empire Games bronze medal.

The hall of fame panel would still like more nominations of local men and women who have achieved national recognition.

Meanwhile it is seeking further information on Peter Jiggins who used the stage name of Peter Maxwell.

He went on to become an internationally-famed pianist. He grew up locally and attended Toynbee Road Senior Boys' School during the Second world War.

Information is also needed on Charlie Marriner, a member of the Paragon Cycling Club in Eastleigh who held the British 30-mile time trial record in the early 1960s.

* If you can help the hall of fame panel with nominations or information please contact Eastleigh Museum curator Sue Tapliss on 023 80643026.