First the Gurkhas, now Joanna Lumley is battling to save Peter Pan's home

SHE is better known for fighting tirelessly for the rights of the Gurkhas. But actress Joanna Lumley is now lending her support to a fictional hero.

The former Absolutely Fabulous star has helped launch a campaign to turn the unofficial birthplace of Peter Pan in Dumfries into a literary centre for children.

Author JM Barrie spent time as a child at Moat Brae House, and later said it was "an enchanted land" that was "certainly the genesis" of his work, Peter Pan.

A major fundraising campaign was launched yesterday by the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust (PPMBT), which hopes to draw in 4 million to turn the Georgian mansion and its grounds into an international centre.

Ms Lumley, the trust's newly appointed patron, said: "There is such wonderful potential to create a fantastic National Centre for Children's Literature and I want to help raise the profile of this admirable project so that Peter Pan fans from all over the world can support this wonderful restoration."

Lumley famously fought and won her battle to give former Gurkhas the right to stay in the UK. The PPMBT is now hoping she can work the same magic in Dumfries.

The trust was set up in August 2009 after it was announced that Moat Brae would be pulled down to make way for housing because it had fallen into disrepair.

An action group was formed by residents who successfully campaigned to save the building and garden from demolition. The trust eventually bought the site from Loreburn Housing Association.

Fund-raising is the first stage of the project. The PPMBT said it hopes to open a restored building and garden in 2015.

Roger Windsor MBE, chairman of PPMBT, said: "We have spent the past two years developing the future concept in order to save Moat Brae House and Garden. We are delighted to welcome Joanna Lumley as our new patron of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust.

"Today we see the launch of phase one of our fund-raising campaign. It is such a significant step forward in realising our dream. It is a great day for Dumfries, now acknowledged as the birthplace of Peter Pan."

Plans include a Peter Pan experience exhibition, a children's library and opportunities to house literary residencies and arts activities that celebrate and promote children's literature.

There are also plans for a Neverland outdoor play area where "every plant will tell a story", and caf and shop within the house. PPMBT project development director Cathy Agnew said she hopes the regeneration would "breathe new life" into Moat Brae.

She said: "This is potentially a very big regeneration project and it serves to really encourage the catalyst for regeneration and economic development for Dumfries.

"We're optimistic that we can make the most of what is still left. Our plan is to launch a campaign for 4m and we're very lucky we have Joanna Lumley at the helm."