A campaign for a plaque commemorating Worcester’s Jewish history is winning widespread backing.

During the Middle Ages, the city had a small Jewish community and was also the location for a national gathering of England’s leading Jews in 1241, before they were forced out of the city.

The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Reverend Dr John Inge, told the Worcester News: ”I should be pleased to support a memorial to the medieval Jews of Worcester who were persecuted and driven out. I hope it might encourage tolerance and togetherness today.”

He noted that the Worcester Cathedral library contained "many records of the substantial Jewish community of Worcester in the Middle Ages, and the tomb of King John – who issued many ‘charters’ which today we would regard as antisemitic . We need to learn from our history and guard against the persecution of any minority, religious or otherwise.”

The campaign also has the “full support” of Worcester Mayor Jo Hodges.

Mark Jones, 55, who has led the campaign, said: “I believe that a plaque of this nature would be an act of atonement and help remind successive generations that we can learn from past human wrongs and resolve to be better people.”

Worcester was one of 26 Jewish centres to have an official document store for Jewish records.