Memorial to war hero Lee Rigby wrecked in latest spate of vandalism
28.06.2024 - 17:23
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Just days after warnings were issued over a rise in vandalism and arson, a memorial to a local war hero in Middleton has been destroyed.
Local politician Coun Dylan Williams spoke out last week over the problems his area has with antisocial behaviour, bemoaning the recent incidents of flowers being pulled out of Middleton Gardens and fires being started on King George V park.
Just days after this, more fires have been lit in the park and displays dedicated to soldiers who fought for their country have been wrecked.
READ MORE: Mum slams school for BANNING her son from prom 'for turning up to class 10 minutes late'
The flowers planted by Middleton in Bloom on Veterans Walk, honouring the fallen soldiers, have been pulled out. Over in Alkrington Woods, a natural willow woven fence around the memorial to the Middleton Fusiliers and local hero Lee Rigby has been ripped to pieces and burnt.
Pat Proctor, chair of Middleton in Bloom, has been left devastated by this latest stunt that has undone hours of volunteer work.
“I was absolutely devastated when I saw this,” she said. “What got vandalised was a dedication to the Middleton Fusiliers and to Lee Rigby.
“Because of that, this one really hurt. There is lots of information next to this about what it's for, so it's not like they didn’t know what they were doing.
“It is just senseless vandalism. It is volunteers that do all this. To see this is soul destroying.”
Lee Rigby, a Langley lad who had served in tours of Afghanistan, was murdered while off-duty just 200 yards from an army barracks back in May 2013. He was only 25 when he was killed whilst taking a walk along a street in Woolwich, south east London.
Despite the damage done to the memorial in Lee's honour in Alkrington,