A VANDALISED war memorial is to set to be revamped.

Norman Park memorial in Huddersfield has been subject to repeated thefts and vandalism but will now be refurbished by Kirklees Council.

New black granite name plaques will be installed in place of the two stolen brass plaques.

All the remaining plaques have now also been removed to allow stone masons to collate the names for the new plaques.

Names from missing plaques have been retrieved using the internet.

Clr Christine Stanfield, Kirklees cabinet member for culture and leisure, said it was a shame that vandals were ruining the Birkby-based memorial.

She said: “These plaques honour service men and women who have died for their country.

“It is sad that some people feel the need to steal them and vandalise them.

“We have repeatedly replaced the brass plaques in the past but have now decided that different action is needed.

“We hope the new granite plaques will solve the problem because of their relatively worthless value to thieves and because they will resist attacks from vandals.

“Hopefully they will remain intact as a tribute to the local people lost in conflict.”

The plaques – which bear names of Birkby and Fartown men killed fighting in the First World War – were reported missing in November last year.

Police found one nearby and Kirklees Council had it repaired.

The other plaque was not found and the council had a new one made.

It was the second time the plaques had had to be replaced on the memorial.

The first time was in 2004, when brass plaques were ripped off by vandals and the bronze statue of the Lone Soldier on the memorial was torn down.

At the time police believed professional thieves used ropes and machinery to carry out the sickening attack which saw the bronze lone soldier statue toppled over.

One theory was the plates, that listed the names of those who died, were worth hundreds of pounds each and were stolen to be sold off at special memorabilia auctions.

The memorial, erected in 1921, was repaired at a cost of £5,000.

It was re-dedicated on March 30, 2005, in a ceremony attended by civic dignitaries and members of the Royal British Legion.

The special service followed a parade attended by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe.