A SICKENING attack on a memorial for Edenbridge's fallen heroes has been slammed by the heartbroken pensioner who created it.

Former Naval officer Bill Casbolt, 72, was "fuming" when he discovered the tribute outside the Royal British Legion club, on the High Street, had been damaged by vandals on Saturday night.

He said: "It's a lack of respect. I do not know why someone would do this. Quite a few people are very upset about it."

Mr Casbolt made the discovery on Sunday morning. He found beer bottles all over the grass, a chain stolen from the front and bricks torn down from one of its surrounding walls.

He built the memorial less than four months ago to honour the war dead from all conflicts and said it had become an important spot for many elderly residents who find it difficult to walk down to the church to pay tribute to loved ones.

It has poppy displays, a patch of grass where people can plant commemorative crosses and plants donated by The Elms Nursery in Four Elms.

It is not the first time the site has been vandalised, according to Mr Casbolt.

"The chains go missing on a regular basis. It makes me very angry, as these people have no respect.

"As soon as you can see the crosses and the wreaths most people would realise it was something special," he said.

Fellow legion member Ben Baker said: "It is disgraceful. Being a memorial garden people should respect that."

Now Mr Casbolt is hoping a bricklayer will be kind enough to build a new wall around the memorial free of charge.

Kent Police are investigating the incident and are appealing for information.

Mr Casbolt was an electrical mechanic 1st class in the Royal Navy from 1954 to 1960, and between 1957 and 1959 he took part in a peacekeeping mission in the Persian Gulf on the HMS Gambia.

Anyone wanting to donate their skills and build a new wall at the site can call Mr Casbolt on 01732 700622.

What do you think about attacks like this? Let us know at www.thisiskent.co.uk/edenbridge