Crooks have been accused of desecrating the memory of fallen soldiers after trying to rip plaques from a wartime memorial.

A local handyman discovered the damage at Blean Memorial Field on Friday morning – just three months after the plaques were donated to commemorate those who died in the First World War.

It is thought the culprits had tried to prize them from the memorial to sell for scrap, wrongly-thinking they were brass.

Local historian Godfrey King, 81 – who served in the RAF from 1946 to 1961 – attended a blessing of the plaques in November.

He said: “As an ex-serviceman myself, my thoughts probably wouldn’t be printable in a family newspaper.

“These people knew what they were doing and what these plaques commemorate, yet still tried to rip them off for the sake of a few pounds.

“It desecrates the memory of those who lost their lives fighting for this country.”

Lyons Funeral Directors – which donated the plaques in November – has said it will replace them.