A NEW monument to William Wallace is to be built in the middle of Glasgow at the site of an early victory over the English.

The city council has agreed to a location outside Glasgow Cathedral, the site of the July 1297 Battle of the Bell o' the Brae.

Wallace supporters have campaigned for four years to get a memorial at the site.

The "iconic" design is a cutout of Wallace, which will allow visitors to pose for pictures as the leader, even holding his sword.

Society of William Wallace convener Duncan Fenton said he hoped the memorial would bring tourists to Glasgow.

He said: "We want something iconic that's going to draw tourists. When people arrive at the airport in Glasgow they pass it on the train and go to Edinburgh."

Mr Fenton said their plan for a memorial cairn had been rejected by the council.

The battle was said to have left Wallace in charge of Glasgow Castle, which was demolished in the 18th cen-tury, and according to one account he "carried off all [the bishops's] furniture, arms and horses".