PLANS for a statue and concert to honour George Michael near his Oxfordshire home have been opposed amid fears up to 2,000 fans could descend on a village cricket ground.

Goring, where the singer lived from 1999, became a focal point for the Wham! stars’ grieving fans following his death on Christmas Day, 2016.

The singer’s connection to South Oxfordshire ran deep and, following his death, the superstar was revealed as the mystery benefactor behind a £10,000 donation to the hard-fought campaign to save Thrupp Lake in Radley, after RWE npower won permission to dump ash in the water.

Despite this, a two-day memorial concert planned by fans for June, to coincide with what would have been the singer’s 55th birthday, has struggled to find a venue.

It was originally set to be held at Goring Cricket Club's ground, but the club expressed concern ‘unacceptable damage’ was a ‘high possibility’ due to the predicted turnout of up to 2,000 people.

Fans, led by Terry Daniels from Milton Keynes, now hope to hold the concert at nearby Sheepcot Recreation Ground, which is owned by the parish council, in the summer of 2019, as well as a smaller event on the original date this year.

She said: “I can appreciate the cricket club’s concerns, though that is where the parish council advised us to hold it.

"We don’t want to just use Goring as a venue for a massive rave but work with the village to honour George’s connection to it.”

Goring parish councillors have also called for more details about funding before they are willing to back a £100,000 life-size bronze sculpture featuring a seated George Michael.

Minutes from a full council meeting held last month revealed councillor Catherine Hall expressed misgivings that no confirmation had yet been received from Mrs Daniels about sponsorship or backing from Mr Michael’s family or estate.

Mrs Daniels, however, told the Oxford Mail she was waiting for the go-ahead from councillors to approach the family and intended to launch a crowd-funding campaign for the sculpture, adding she had already had a ‘sizeable chunk’ donated anonymously.

The sculpture, modelled on the singer’s 2004 ‘Patience’ album cover, would show him sat on a bench looking towards his cottage by the river from a spot nearby.

Sculptor Andrew Sinclair, also behind a statue of David Bowie due to be unveiled in March 2018 in Aylesbury, has produced concept art and the quote for the artwork.