A NEW blue plaques scheme will make it easier for people to follow in the footsteps of some of the isles most famous historical inhabitants.

About 20 plaques are to be put up around Ramsgate showing the buildings where famous figures such as the Duke of Wellington and Edward Heath either studied or lived.

The new blue square plaques are to be paid for by county councillor Liz Green’s community grant.

The Ramsgate Society’s Frank Batt, 35, who works as a service adviser at a garage in Cliftonville, came up with the idea. He said: “I wanted to update the Ramsgate historical trail and blue plaques seemed like a good idea. The plaques are of benefit to the people in the town because they can see where famous people lived.”

Mr Batt said that sites have been identified through discussions at the society and they hope to put them up in June. He added: “We have got to get permission from the owners first.”

Heritage boss Nick Dermott believes the project could help to attract further tourism to the area. He said: “It gives people a sense of place and people like to walk the streets that famous people have walked.”

Mr Dermott said the most famous blue plaque in the country is in London’s Mayfair, where Handel and Jimmi Hendrix shared the same residence. He added: “Not at the same time, of course!”

New sites in Ramsgate which may be added to the list include the house on the Plains of Waterloo where Karl Marx lived toward the end of his life.