War heroes from Ashby and Measham will be honoured in the next round of Leicestershire County Council's Green Plaque awards.

The first woman to qualify as a pharmacist, the founder of the Quaker Movement and a soldier posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, are among those to be awarded the plaque.

The six recipients have been chosen by popular vote – with the people of Leicestershire deciding where the next Green Plaques should be awarded, and more than 3,700 votes were cast.

The nominations were narrowed down to a shortlist of 12 by a panel of judges – and that shortlist was open for voting for six weeks.

The six shortlisted nominees who received the most votes and who will receive a Green Plaque include:

Lt Col Philip Eric Bent VC DSO, who attended school in Ashby.

He was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele while leading a charge and was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for 'conspicuous bravery';

Sgt Herbert Ernest Black RAFVR, a second World War fighter pilot from Measham who made several daring flights during the war.

His plane was hit in a dogfight during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Sgt Black managed to escape from his burning plane, but was badly hurt and later died of his injuries;

Also included are: Frances Elizabeth Deacon from Fleckney. She was the first woman to pass the qualifying exam to become a pharmacist. When she died at the age of 92. She was the oldest registered chemist in England;

George Fox from Fenny Drayton who founded the Quaker Movement. His ideas influenced at US Constitution and Bill of Rights in the USA and the ideas of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity used in the French Revolution. The Quaker were also among the first to oppose slavery;

Military Stables at the Defence Animal Training Unit, Melton. The Defence Animal Training Regiment has been training and caring for animals used in military defence since 1905. It was originally responsible for the purchase and training of horses for the British Army between 1887 and 1942 and now trains mainly dogs for the Ministry of Defence.

It is also the home of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps and has cared for some famous animals in the past, including the Household Cavalry horse Sefton, who was injured in the Hyde Park bombings of 1982;

Theodora Salusbury, Arts & Crafts stained glass artist who designed stained glass windows in nearly 30 churches across England and Wales, including Narborough, Newtown Linford, Queniborough, Kimcote, Woodhouse Eaves and Birstall. Most of her work bears her signature, a peacock.

Ashby councillor Dan Harrison, the County Council chairman, said: "I'm delighted to see that members of the public have again cast their votes to pay tribute to people and places who have made a mark on the history of their communities.

"The response has once again been fantastic, with more than 3,700 votes cast – and there were so many worthy winners to choose from, all of whom have made a great and lasting contribution to their communities and the wider world.

"I would like to thank everyone who nominated a person or place, and all those people who voted to decide where the latest round of Green Plaques should be awarded."