BAME: New war veterans' wreaths laid after others damaged

Windrush Cymru Elders representative Roma Taylor attended the laying of the new wreaths

New wreaths have been laid in tribute to black and minority ethnic servicemen and women at Wales' national war memorial, after others were damaged.

Race Council Cymru (RCC) tweeted images showing the wreaths were moved in Cardiff and put on top of a bin.

Initially police said it was being treated as a "hate-related incident", but officers since found the wreath damage was caused by Storm Christoph.

Cardiff council said it was not clear how the wreaths became damaged.

A council spokesman said "right now we don't know what actually happened to them" as there was no CCTV footage available.

"It is possible that the wreaths may have been damaged by the wind and bad weather and then placed by the bin by someone who had seen them scattered around the park."

However, the authority has urged people to contact the police if anyone witnessed vandalism of the wreaths taking place.

Race Council Wales tweeted that they were "horrified" the wreaths had been put on the bin

Earlier, council officials and representatives from Race Council Cymru, Windrush Cymru Elders and the British Armed Forces joined a socially-distanced ceremony to lay the new wreaths.

Council leader Huw Thomas, who attended to lay them at two memorials in Alexandra Gardens said: "I am pleased the original wreaths have been replaced so quickly, and we will secure them now against damage by weather".

Judge Ray Singh CBE, chairman of RCC, said the laying of new wreaths would recognise and honour Wales-based servicemen and women "in a befitting manner".

Both Cardiff council and RCC have agreed to hold an annual joint ceremony to recognise black, Asian and ethnic minority service personnel to ensure their stories are told to current and future generations.

The council also said all wreaths will be secured to war memorials to protect them from wind or storm damage in future.