ALL round support has been given and planning permission granted this week for a tribute to the fallen to be mounted at Purfleet's Heritage Centre and Military Museum.

There was outrage and anger in May this year when vandals destroyed wooden soldier silhouettes at the site.

Since 2018 when the end of the First World War was commemorated, an array of 'Tommys' was part of a display at the centre and museum on Centurion Way on the Garrison estate.

But they were destroyed in an orgy of petty and senseless violence.

Centre chairman and founder Alan Gosling said he was sickened by the vandalism, telling Thurrock Nub News which exclusively broke the story: "We have been going down to the centre regularly and checking it over and doing the odd little bit of work and it was a real sickener to see this."

However, the local community said it would rally to replace the figures and then a Leeds firm, ACS Stainless Steel who had been alerted by national publicity that followed the vandalism, offered to make new statues.

Because of its size, the new memorial required planning permission which was applied for by Trevor Batchelor, vice chair of the Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum, on behalf of the local community.

And as the year draw to a close the council has granted permission, with nothing but support from all the consultees including Heritage England.

Mr Batchelor said: "This is great news. Our immense gratitude to ACS and to all those who responded so positively after the incident.

"We will install the silhouettes and unveil them with an appropriate ceremony in the new year when it is appropriate but it's something we can now very much look forward to."