VANDALS have struck again at one of the UK's most unique war memorials, in the heart of a Thurrock village.

The Bata 'Eternal Flame' memorial was created in 1955 in East Tilbury after being commissioned by the Bata Shoe Company which became an integral part of the village after establishing a factory there in 1932.

At least 81 Bata employees from the factory died in World War Two and they are remembered at the memorial, which is a five-tiered, round marble archway structure with a bronze sculpture of an urn with eternal flame in the centre arch.

The arch stands on a marble plinth which has an inscription in carved lettering and names of the dead on bronze plaques.

The memorial in pristine condition.

The structure stands on a rough-hewn stone base. The monument was significantly restored, and additional names added in 2013, and it was rededicated in 2014.

On Monday night (21 July) local councillor Fraser Massey was alerted by residents of an act of vandalism at the memorial, where the centrepiece was damaged and a paving stone overturned.

Today he told Thurrock Nub News: "Damage was reported to myself late last night of the Eternal Flame at the Memorial Park, the damaged part has been picked up and safely stored awaiting future repair.

"For what is a memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice it is upsetting that we are having to make repairs almost every year lately.

"I hope the repairs will be treated with the respect the memorial deserves."