'Shock' as vandals etch profanities on WW1 memorial

A World War One memorial and well-known hilltop landmark has been vandalised, with obscene words scratched into the stone.

The Grade II-listed monument on Ham Hill, near Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, displays the names of those who died fighting on the Western Front between 1914 and 1918.

Avon and Somerset Police said the incident is believed to have happened overnight between Saturday and Sunday.

Gilly Lowe, clerk at Stoke-sub-Hamdon Parish Council, said: "I think it's shocking that people gave their lives for this country and somebody else has decided to damage that. It shows absolutely no respect and it's very sad."

The Royal British Legion said it was "saddened to hear" of the damage.

A spokesperson for the Armed Forces charity added: "War memorials and graves honour the memory of every member of the Armed Forces who has made the ultimate sacrifice and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect."

The vandalism has prompted anger in the village, with more than 70 people writing messages on Stoke-sub-Hamdon's Facebook page decrying it.

Lowe said that the vandals etched profanities into the surface of the memorial.

"Not graffiti or paint daubed on, so they've taken some time to do some real damage.

"How we're going to repair it, I'm not exactly sure, but I'll speak to an expert and see if they can make it look like it was never there.

"It's going to be a cost for the parish council and it's all so completely unnecessary," she added.

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.