IN the wake of an attack by vandals on a memorial tribute at Purfleet Heritage Centre and Military Mueum overnight, the local community has been galvanised into action and is determined to put right the damage.

Thurrock Nub News reported earlier today on the destruction of a number of wooden 'Tommys', created as part of the 100th anniversary commemoration of the end of the First World War.

There was a widespread reaction of shock and disbelief, with one councillor calling for an increased police presence in the area, but what did shine through was the spirit of community and that the tributes would quickly be restored.

Local community forum vice-chairman Trevor Batchelor has already pledged to recreate the soldiers he first made in 2018, but recognised they might need to be a little 'stronger'.

But the cost of recreating them looks set to be shared by the wider local community.

Local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Lisa Wright has already set up a croding page to cover the cost, with residents shipping in. She says: "I am a local Purfleet resident and Neighbourhood watch co-ordinator who was angered, disappointed and sad this morning when I spotted that a memorial to the fallen had been vandalised.

"Twenty six Tommy's were created by the vice chair of the local community forum and were used as part of the 2018 commemoration event held in Purfleet. Since then they had been on display outside the Purfleet Heritage and Military Museum a centre run entirely by volunteers.

"One row of soldiers has been ripped from its fixings and discarded and vandalised on the floor the other row have been beheaded as seen in the photo. The plan is to replace these Soldiers so any donations towards this would be gratefully received and will be passed to the Purfleet on Thames Community Forum to cover costs."

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