'Anger' after remembrance display vandalised

Arthur Pinnock and Greg Wilson said the local community had been shocked by the vandalism

Veterans have been left "upset" and "angry" after a war memorial to mark Remembrance Sunday was targeted by vandals.

Soldier silhouettes and poppies were arranged for the display in Eakring Road in Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire Police said it received multiple reports over the last week that items in the display had been pushed over and damaged.

Greg Wilson, who lives locally and served in the Royal Air Force from 1986 to 1999, said the vandalism was "atrocious".

A police appeal was launched on Tuesday urging anyone with details to contact them

Damage to the display was first reported to Nottinghamshire Police in the early hours of 22 October.

Two further reports followed, with poppies and signs at the memorial found upended between Sunday and Monday.

Mr Wilson, 56, said: "Our veterans group have been deeply upset and angered by [the vandalism]. They know it's not just for the veterans but it's for people's families too.

"This is a peaceful place to be and to hear that this has been vandalised was atrocious to us all."

An online fundraiser has been set up to help fund the repair of the display and has raised more than £2,000 so far.

Smashed glass was found underneath an empty broken frame at the memorial

Arthur Pinnock, a former Royal Engineer who served in Libya, Cyprus and Kenya, said he started the memorial about six years ago.

"The damaged [boards] will be destroyed and taken to the skip," he said. "We've had an online collection and that will pay for all the woodwork for new ones.

"They are about £50 a board and you can only get two soldiers out of a board. We will start making them again in February and they'll be ready again soon after."

In the wake of the vandalism, police said officer patrols had increased in the area.

PC Nicola Best said: "This memorial was set up as a show of respect for fallen heroes, so to think anyone would consider vandalising it is absolutely disgraceful.

"We're determined to track down whoever might be responsible."