VANDALS have damaged a war memorial for the second time in the space of three months.

The 'Tommy' memorial outside Farnworth Library depicts the outline of a soldier.

It was put in place last year as part of the Remembered charity's There But Not There campaign, which aims commemorate those who died in the First World War a century after the conflict was brought to an end.

The sculpture was one of five pieces put up around Bolton at a cost to the council of nearly £4,000.

On Monday, Farnworth and Kearsley First councillor Paul Sanders noticed the sculpture was bent out of shape, in a similar way to when it was previously vandalised in November.

Cllr Paul Sanders said: "It's just completely soul-destroying and there's a sense of anger as well.

"You have one act of vandalism, then the community rally together, the council put it right and you think that'll be it. Then a few months later it happens again.

"The relevant council department have been made aware and hopefully something happens fairly rapidly."

Cllr Sanders said a decision now needs to be made on whether the memorial is moved inside the library or somewhere else completely.

He added: "The question you have to ask is 'do we move him somewhere safer?' Or is that just giving in to one or two mindless people in the minority?

"We want him stood proud wherever he's going to be."

Cllr Maureen Flitcroft believes the memorial should still be out in the open.

She said: "It's heartbreaking. I don't understand the mentality of the people who can do this sort of thing.

"You feel as if you're banging your head against a wall trying to get through to these people.

"I'm personally reluctant for it to go anywhere inside. I think it should be on display outside, but maybe it should be against a wall somewhere."

The police have been informed of the vandalism and anyone with information should call 101, quoting crime reference 031451S/19.