Residents have been left disappointed after a war memorial in Atherton was vandalised.

The statue, situated at the junction of Leigh Road and Hamilton Street, depicts a soldier holding a bouquet of poppies.

Two councillors temporarily repaired it after the arm and bouquet was ripped off.

Councillor for Atherton, Stuart Gerrard, said: “If anyone knows anything about who is responsible please get in touch. If they have any shred of decency about them, they will own up to this and offer to help pay to repair or replace the statue.

“Rather than desecrating an area for remembrance, educating them over the sacrifices former Atherton residents made during the wars would be more beneficial.

“Myself and Cllr James Paul Watson have been down to clear up the mess caused by the thrown planter.

“We’ve also done a temporary repair to the statue.”