VANDALS have desecrated a war memorial by daubing it with swear words and a number seven in a sick tribute to Manchester United ace David Beckham.

Now war veterans and community leaders have joined together to condemn the actions.

In the most recent attack graffiti on memorial in Gatty Park, Church, the vandals - believed to be a gang of youngsters - daubed abusive words and the letters RIP across the bottom of the statue.

They also signed their names on the statue's breasts before drawing a large number seven on the back.

Council workers only finished repairing the memorial - which is the venue for Church's annual Remembrance Sunday service - from its last vandal attack last week.

A spokesman for Hyndburn Council said the memorial was regularly defaced - most significantly a week before last year's poppy day parade when eggs were thrown at it and bits chiselled off.

Youngsters in the park said the number seven had been painted by thugs who support David Beckham, who famously wears the number on his back.

War veteran Alfred Hake, who fought with the RAF in the Second World War and is a member of the Hyndburn RAF Association, condemned the actions.

He said: "It is sickening. That statue is there to remember those who fought and gave their lives for the people now to live in a free society.

"If they hadn't done that, there would be no icons like David Beckham. It is absolutely appalling but unfortunately it is quite common now. "Youngsters need to realise what they are doing. They may worship Beckham but the statue is there to remember people who gave their lives for the good of this country."

Barbara Cliffe, from the Church Central Residents Association, based in Elmfield Hall within the grounds of Gatty Park, said: "It is the latest in a long line of vandalism incidents here.

"Windows are smashed in the hall on a regular basis, the bowling greens are destroyed by kids on bikes and last Wednesday the bowlers had to keep stopping their game while screaming girls ran across the greens.

"The police just don't seem to care. It is a no-go area nearly all the time now."

Hyndburn Council is planning to install CCTV on the park to protect the hall, but it will not be linked to the police or cover the statue or bowling green.

Mrs Cliffe added: "It will do no good. We need police action here."

A spokesman for the council said it was working on the CCTV project while a spokesman for Accrington Police said they did respond to calls to Gatty Park and did monitor it.

But he added: "We need to plan action which will solve the problem, not displace it."