A Grade ll listed war memorial honouring a town's men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice has been restored after it was damaged last month.

Residents were shocked and saddened after the bronze Angel of Victory was removed from its plinth on the memorial at the junction of Union Road and Rhyddings Street in Oswaldtwistle.

Police launched an investigation into the criminal damage incident after the chair of Church and Oswaldtwistle Royal British Legion, Hilary Austin, discovered the angel had been thrown in the bushes on August 29.

On Friday, September 8, Hilary noticed the memorial had been restored and has shared her excitement.

She said: “Everyone is delighted it has been returned. The angel has landed!

"Thanks to the prompt action from Councillor Steven Smithson and Hyndburn Borough Council, our beautiful war memorial has been restored to its former glory after it was so recently damaged.

“Our angel ‘Victory’, who is holding a laurel wreath with Royal Navy insignia, is now firmly back home on her pedestal.

“Thank you to all who acted promptly to get this sorted and thank you to everyone in our community who help keep a close eye on the area.”

Her message was inundated with shares and comments from residents expressing their relief and happiness that the memorial has finally been restored.

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.

The Angel of Victory tribute is found around the world, with the one in Port-of-Spain in Trinidad and Tobago being almost identical to Oswaldtwistle’s memorial.

The memorial is the focal point of the town's Remembrance services and parades which draw huge crowds to pay respects to the fallen every year.

It is still unclear how the statue which “weighs a tonne” was dumped in the nearby bushes and police are still appealing for information.

As the annual remembrance period approaches, Church and Oswaldtwistle Royal British Legion is hosting a ‘Remember Together’ fundraiser concert for the Poppy Appeal.

The event, located at Brave Church in Watson Street, will start at 6.30pm on Saturday, October 21. Tickets are £5 per person, with all proceeds going towards the charity.