A £500 reward is on offer for anyone who offers police information leading to the arrest of a vandal who damaged a war memorial.

The ‘Tommy’ outside Farnworth Library was bent out of shape on Sunday, November 4, when an unknown vandal targeted it in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It was placed in the town as part of the ‘There But Not There’ campaign, honouring those who died in the First World War, which came to an end one hundred years ago on Sunday.

The reward money came from a number of sources, with £300 donated by local business owner Jamie Goulding, who runs Goulding's Martial Arts, St Germain Street.

Cllr Maureen Flitcroft, who has been collecting the money, said: "The public outcry regarding the awful damage to Tommy has shown what the occasion of the centenary year means to the people of our town.

"We can not and will not let the minority spoil the commemoration for our people."

The Tommy has now been repaired and returned to its place.

Anyone with information is asked to go to the police directly. However, if no arrests are made by December 10, the money is set to be donated to the Royal British Legion. To get in touch with police, call 101 or use the Live Chat on www.gmp.police.uk