Found - stolen memorial back for anniversary
DISCOVERED DUMPED IN A STREET AFTER FURY
A STOLEN statue honouring heroes of the Great War has been returned.
The silhouette of a sailor was donated to the people of Stanley in County Durham by the Royal British Legion ahead of the centenary of the end of the First World War on Sunday .
Locals reacted with anger and disgust at the theft and police launched a porbe and pleaded for it to be returned.
Now Durham Constabulary has confirmed it has been handed in at a police station by a member of the public who found it discarded in the Church Street area of the town.
Sgt Dave Clarke, of Stanley Police, said: “It would appear that this has been a very silly and disrespectful prank carried out by someone who will hopefully now realise how offensive it was and how strongly the people of Stanley feel about this.
“But, he has been found intact and will now be put back in place ready to return to duty in time for the centenary commemorations at the weekend.”
The silhouettes of soldiers, sailors and airmen were created by the Royal British Legion and have been donated to communities across the country.
Sunday will see ceremonies all over the country remembering fallen members of the armed forces and in particular those who lost their lives in the First World War.
An armistice signed on November 11, 1918 between the Allies and Germany brought the bloody conflict to an end 100 years ago.