Council sorry for 'amateurish' memorial work

Westmorland and Furness Council said the result "wasn't as we had hoped"

A council has apologised for work to a war memorial, branded "amateurish" by a veteran ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

Steve Wilkinson, who served with the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, said he could not believe the state of the war memorial in Kendal, Cumbria.

A Westmorland and Furness Council's contractor was asked to lay some turf as a base for poppy displays, but the result "wasn't as we had hoped" a council spokesman said. The work has now been rectified.

Mr Wilkinson said: "The lump of grass that they pulled up, it looked like they'd dragged it up off the roadside, it was full of weeds, the grass was long - it just wasn't tidy or respectful whatsoever."

The Lib Dem-led authority said arrangements had been in place for the work to be redone, ahead of commemoration events this weekend.

"We apologise for any upset caused and are very grateful to the members of our local community who stepped in to ensure the memorial looks its best," a spokesman said.

The council's contractor rectified the work, ahead of Remembrance commemorations

Mr Wilkinson had gone to the memorial to lay a cross for fallen servicemen, including friends.

He said: "I thought to myself there's no way I'm putting my cross in that bit of grass because it doesn't represent a memorial of quality, it's so unkempt and amateurish, it was unbelievable."

After he shared a post on social media, he said people were "horrified the council thought this would do".

The council said it had now replaced the turf.

A spokesman said: "We are proud to honour and remember all those who have fallen in service, and we apologise for any upset caused."