Residents in an East Lancashire town have expressed their shock and anger over the damage caused to a war memorial.

The chair of the Church and Oswaldtwistle Royal British Legion, Hilary Austin, discovered this morning (August 29) that the bronze angel which sits atop the Korea inscription of the memorial was removed from its plinth at the junction of Union Road and Rhyddings Street.

Hilary searched the area and eventually found the angel had been thrown in the bushes.

She tried to roll it over but it was too heavy, so she believes there must be more than one culprit responsible for the damage.

She said: “I would say this isn’t just kids vandalising because it’s so heavy.

"Someone must have had a ladder, especially because when the council recovered it, there doesn’t appear to be any damage or scratches.

“I’m absolutely shocked that someone would target it and also disappointed because it’s a place where people sit in reflection.

"I’m really dismayed that someone would actually do that and this will have upset so many local people and people are quite angry about it.

“I hope whoever is responsible is caught. The police have been really good and acted on it very quickly.

"I contacted Councillor Steven Smithson who reported it to the council straight away and it was recovered by around 9am.”

The memorial honours men and women from the town who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the armed forces during the First and Second World Wars, Korean War, in Northern Ireland and in other armed conflicts.

It is the focal point of the town's Remembrance services and parades which draw huge crowds to pay respects to the fallen

Police are now investigating the criminal damage incident and are asking members of the public to provide any information which may help.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “At some point in recent days a large section of metal has been removed from its plinth.

“This monument is important to many people in and around Oswaldtwistle and we are in touch with the local branch of Royal British Legion.

“Any information can be passed directly to us online or using 101 and quoting log 300 of August 29.

“Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to independent charity Crime Stoppers.”