'Disgust' as vandals target war memorial benches

War Memorial Village said repairs for the vandalism will cost £3,500

Residents have been left "disgusted" after war memorial benches were vandalised in Derby.

Four benches at War Memorial Village in Shelton Lock had their paintwork scratched by vandals.

The incident was reported to police on 14 June and Micky Doyle, 84, a trustee of the site, said the vandals have "no respect" for the memorial.

War Memorial Village Derby, which provides homes for injured and disabled ex service personnel and their families, said it will cost £3,500 to repair the benches.

Scratches made on the benches

Mr Doyle said this is not the first time the benches have been vandalised.

"We have five benches and there are scratchings along four of them, they have damaged the paintwork badly," he said.

"It wont be a matter of a lick of paint to fix it.

"It is a proud memorial and it represents the people who gave their lives for others to sit on the benches and enjoy their life."

Four out of five benches at the memorial have been damaged

The charity said as the benches are not checked every day, they "only noticed" the vandalism at the weekend.

Mr Doyle added: "Living next door to the memorial, I do speak to people and some people have said how disgusted they are that this is being done with no respect to the people who gave their lives for ours."

A Derbyshire Police spokesperson said: "Officers from the local Safer Neighbourhood Policing team are carrying out inquiries and we would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the damage or have any information about the damage."

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