AN HISTORIAN wants repairs to a war memorial which pays tribute to Hyndburn's war dead.

High winds caused stone engravings bearing soldiers' names to fall off the memorial, which stands in Oak Hill Park, off Manchester Road, Accrington.

But council leader Peter Britcliffe said: “We don’t know if it was pulled off by vandals, as has happened in the past. Extreme weather conditions have also loosened the plaques and pointing. A member of our Property Services Team is meeting with a stone mason later this week to discuss our options.”

The memorial is the focal point of Hyndburn's memorial services and features plaques honouring the famous Accrington Pals, who died in the First World War.

Walter Holmes, who has been researching the Pals for many years, has criticised the maintenance of the war memorial and urged Hyndburn Council to carry out repairs.

He said: “They fell off just before the last of the tommies, Harry Patch, died.

“He lasted longer than the memorial did. This ceno-taph is the largest outside of London, but the poor upkeep of it makes it a disgrace.”

On Sunday, Walter’s daughter Catherine Holmes saw another panel lying on the ground. She removed the heavy stone slab with the help of her partner to prevent damage.