A pressure group that was headed by Margaret Thatcher until her death has said it intends to create a library, museum and education centre as a permanent memorial to the former prime minister.

The centre would contain artefacts from the Thatcher era and would be based on the presidential library and museum of her US contemporary Ronald Reagan.

Conservative Way Forward said the centre would be located in close proximity to Westminster and said Thatcher had approved of the project before her death on 8 April.

Several large donations have already been pledged and negotiations for a site are ongoing at this stage.

Funds will be raised through the Cherish Freedom Trust, intended to be the charitable arm of Conservative Way Forward, and pro-active fundraising will begin after Thatcher's funeral today (17 April).

Chairman of the project's trustees Ben Elliot said: "The centre will be a place for scholars, students and tourists alike to come and learn about the remarkable life, the unique achievements and the core values of Margaret Thatcher."

Thatcher served as president of Conservative Way Forward since it was established in 1991.

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