George Harrison died of cancer in 2001

Olivia Harrison wants a tribute in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, where the pair lived for more than 20 years.

In a letter this week to the now former mayor, she said she wanted to pull out after press reports that councillors wanted her "kicked into gear".

But councillor Barry Edwards said the comments had been misinterpreted.

He said the remarks, attributed to his then deputy six months ago, were not intended to refer to her.

The comment referred to plans to revamp a flood-damaged area of the town riverfront, which had been one of Mrs Harrison's proposed sites for the memorial.

Waiting for decision

Mr Edwards said discussions with Mrs Harrison over the tribute for her husband, who died of cancer, would continue.

He said: "It must be what she would like to see because we are talking about her husband here, a very famous man, but her husband.

"The problem was whether we were doing something with this area or waiting until she came to a decision about what she wanted.

"Whatever was said was certainly said in the context of wanting to get this area tidy and clean and sorted out before we get visitors during the summer.

"Every member of this council is perfectly happy to see a memorial in the town."