Memorial sites vandalised before Remembrance events

Two vandalised war memorial sites will be "pretty challenging" to clean but they will be ready in time for Remembrance Sunday, a council has vowed.

The Lowestoft Naval Memorial, at Belle Vue Park, was sprayed with red paint, while a seating area near the town's Royal Plain war monument was covered in black graffiti.

Suffolk Police said a 19-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in connection with the Belle Vue Park vandalism and bailed until 22 December.

The defacing of the two areas came just days before veterans and residents gather to remember forces veterans who have died in conflict.

"The community is pretty shocked by it and it is just really annoying," said Jonny Hawes, parks and grounds maintenance manager at Lowestoft Town Council.

"It will take a considerable amount of time to clean, but we're well equipped for this and it will be removed and gone [before Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day]."

Remembrance Sunday honours military personnel who have died in all conflicts, while Armistice Day every 11 November marks the end of World War One in 1918.

The memorial in Belle Vue Park commemorates the lives of almost 2,400 officers of the Royal Naval Patrol Service who have "no grave but the sea".

The one at Royal Plain on the seafront remembers the 716 Lowestoft men who died during World War One.

The seating in that area, which has been covered in spray-painted tags and designs, was only installed last year and is managed by East Suffolk Council.

"Our services operator East Suffolk Services Ltd is aware of the graffiti at Royal Plain, and this will be removed as soon as possible," a spokesperson said.

The latest spate of graffiti comes just days after other areas in the town were targeted, including Ness Park, a sea wall and sea defence, and a historical buoy.

"It's getting less shocking because we're so used to it, but that doesn't make it right, and we shouldn't have to be in that situation really," added Hawes.

"It draws on services which could be better spent elsewhere – it is really annoying, to say the least."

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