I do not want to be the one who extinguishes hope in Centenary Square

Ian Ward, Birmingham City Council

Churches across the city clubbed together to pay for the running costs of the statue throughout 2000.

The city council took over funding the memorial at the beginning of 2001 but the money runs out at the end of the year.

Canon David Lee, who set up the flame, said: "I understand the city council's position - it does cost money to run.

"But I think it is so important. It actually gives hope to so many people and at this moment, with this tragedy in the States, even more so.

Source of comfort

"We get stories of people coming to sit and look at the flame and going away uplifted, a reminder that there is hope in a very complex world.

"So I very much hope that we will see it burning for some time to come."

Birmingham's cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture, Ian Ward, said the city had agreed to fund the flame for an additional year because of the arguement over whether 2000 or 2001 was the millennium year.

He said the city was now considering other ways to pay for the flame, including possible sponsorship deals.

"I do not want to be the one who extinguishes hope in Centenary Square," he said.