Second copper theft at Walsall war memorial this year

Thieves have stolen copper from the roof of a West Midlands war memorial for a second time this year.

Walsall Council said the Barr Beacon memorial was targeted in the same way in April and copper was also stolen from there last year.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, Barr Beacon Trust chairman, said the theft was "despicable".

The memorial was built to honour men from Staffordshire and Warwickshire who died in the First World War.

'Step up security'

He said: "To target a war memorial that stands as a reminder of the sacrifices made by men from Staffordshire and Warwickshire in the First World War is despicable.

"The metal taken is worth virtually nothing to the thieves but we're facing yet another large repair bill.

"We cannot afford to keep going down this route and the trust will discuss possible replacement materials for the monument when it meets later today.

"We will also examine the options available to step up security at the site."