HEARTLESS yobs have desecrated a war memorial remembering servicemen from the Padiham area who gave their lives for others.

The Royal British Legion's poppy appeal organiser, Eric Midgley, today vowed not to give in to louts who vandalised the memorial by Padiham town hall for the second year running.

Mr Midgley placed 100 crosses with the names of soldiers from Padiham and the surrounding area who died in the First and Second World Wars in the garden on Saturday. However, by Sunday morning Mr Midgley said part of the legion's insignia was ripped off a large cross and about a dozen personalised ones were desecrated. He said: "It is demoralising. I was toying with the idea of not doing the Padiham garden again but if I did that the vandals would have won.

"They are yobbos but unfortunately it is the world we live in.

"I am going to keep going because around Burnley and Padiham for the size of the community the area took heavy losses and I would be abandoning them if I didn't continue with the garden.

"The lads deserve some remembrance."

The garden was quickly repaired following the attack in time for today's (tues) launch of Padiham's poppy appeal.

Mr Midgley said the garden was expanded this year from 30 crosses to 100 by including dead soldiers from Hapton, Sabden, Simonstone, Read and Higham and he hoped it would be bigger next year.

Mayor of Padiham, Councillor Andy Tatchelll said: "This is despicable behaviour which can't be condoned.

"It makes you wonder what sort of person would do such a thing."