A plan to see 100 women take to the streets during this summer's Weymouth carnival is well under way.

This August, one Weymouth and Portland councillor is on a mission to assemble a group of women to re-create the peaceful 'Votes For Women Marches' as part of the carnival parade.

The march is to mark the centenary of some women being granted suffrage and 90 years since all women got the right to vote.

Cllr Sandy West said the idea came to her after reading 'Testament of Youth' by Vera Brittain.

She said it 'got her thinking' about the important roles women took on during the First World War and despite this were still not allowed to vote.

"It came home to me just how undervalued women were. My grandmother told me my great-aunt was a suffragette in Liverpool. I thought how proud I was that ordinary working-class women like me were defying their husbands and taking up the banner for voting," she said.

Sandy decided, to highlight how far women have come, but also how far they have to go, she would assemble 100 women to march in Weymouth Carnival 2018.

She started a Facebook group and within a few days more than 350 women had joined.

"The response has been phenomenal. I am over the moon there's been such an interest and the carnival committee have been absolutely brilliant," she said.

Those wishing to be involved are being asked to register their interest via the Facebook group but Sandy said, no matter how many women turn up on the day, the march will go ahead.

"I can represent 100 women if I need to," she said. "Some of us will be in costumes and we are going to learn some suffragette songs to sing as we march."

Sandy said all women and men are welcome to join and although some people will be in suffragette costumes, fancy dress is not necessary.

"It's not about being authentic it's about women. You don't have to buy fancy dress, just be there. It would be great to see young women and mums there too. We need more diversification and it about all of us standing up together," she said.

"I have been mayor twice, been on the town council for 16 years and done six years on the borough council and it's all because of the suffragettes and the strong women in my family."

Weymouth carnival will take place on August 15 and if you are interested in joining the march search Weymouth Carnival 100 Years - The Suffragettes on Facebook.