A MEMORIAL is to be unveiled to honour the pioneering North Yorkshire doctor who identified that cholera is a waterborne disease, saving countless lives.

Dr John Snow is considered one of the fathers of modern epidemiology, in part because of his work in tracing the source of a cholera outbreak in Soho, London, in 1854.

But the only recognition of his achievements in his home city of York is a small blue plaque in North Street noting that Dr Snow was born there.

However an initiative led by York Civic Trust, York Medical Society and the University of York is now ensuring the city has a more fitting memorial in North Street Gardens.

Descendants of Dr Snow, including his great-great-nephew, Geoff Snow, will attend the unveiling of the memorial, a Victorian water pump, on March 15.

The water pump, with its handle removed, signifies the event in London in 1854 when Dr Snow persuaded the authorities to remove the handle from the street pump he was convinced was the source of the cholera epidemic.

Dr Snow was a sceptic of the then-dominant theory that diseases such as cholera were caused by a noxious form of "bad air."

By mapping the addresses of those who died and talking to local residents, he identified the source of the outbreak as a public water pump - and persuaded the local council to disable the pump by removing its handle. His action has been commonly credited as ending the outbreak.

Professor Hilary Graham from the University of York said: “More than 200 years since his birth, York will finally have a memorial to commemorate the life and work of John Snow, the city's unsung hero.

“It has been a very exciting project, and I have nothing but admiration for everyone who has been involved in making sure York has a fitting memorial to honour such a brilliant scientist.”