Thieves raid memorial garden for Second World War fallen

Now Northumbria Police is hunting the crooks who stole from a memorial tree planting project just before Remembrance Day.

Officers in Ashington are appealing for witnesses following the theft of multiple tree stakes from Peoples Park in the town.

Sometime between 12pm on Friday, October 30, and 12pm on Monday, November 2, the stakes were taken from the park.

The stakes help support trees planted in memory of Ashington locals who lost their lives in the Second World War.

New trees were planted several years ago to replace ones which had been lost, and a further 25 added in honour of people whose families who could not afford the cost to have their loved ones recognised on the memorial at the time.

The theft of the stakes has come as a blow to Ashington Town Council, which erected the new trees along with Ashington Cricket Club and the Ashington Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Inspector Phil Patterson, who leads the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Ashington, said: “It’s extremely disappointing that anyone would seek to vandalise or steal from a WWII memorial – especially so close to November 11.

“We are asking anyone with any information or anyone who may have spotted anything suspicious in the area over the weekend to please contact officers.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 quoting log 554 021120. Alternatively, you can get in touch via the ‘Report an Incident’ function of our website.

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