A WAR memorial at Pennings Road in Tidworth, which is used as the focus of remembrance activities in the middle of the town, has been stolen by metal thieves.

The offenders, thought to have arrived in a white vehicle, removed the Vivi Mallock solid bronze statue of a First World War soldier from the memorial stone plinth between 2.40am and 3.19am on Monday.

Police are examining CCTV footage of the incident to try to identify those responsible.

The statute, which was 4ft tall and cost £10,000 in 1998, was installed by the Royal British Legion Club at the behest of the late Cllr Peter Colling because, despite its strong military connections, Tidworth had no outside war memorial of its own.

Since then wreaths have been laid and a uniformed bugler sounds the last post on Remembrance Sundays.

Ann Green, the club secretary, said: “People are really annoyed about this because of what it was.

“I can hardly believe that someone would take it because it is a remembrance statue, but I suppose they are not bothered about that and see only what it is worth.”

It is possible that the statue, which was the only one of its kind, will be melted down for its scrap bronze value, or go to a private collector.

However the Legion still has the much smaller replica statue which is identical in design to its missing much larger brother.

The statue which was very heavy, was secured to an inscribed base by four heavy duty bolts which the offenders found some way of dislodging before disappearing to the north on the A338.

Joanne Latto, a wife of a serving soldier, said: “My friends are all shocked that somebody could stoop so low – it is disgusting.”

Vivi Mallock, said: “I was very fond of that little figure, which was intended to represent the thousands of soldiers who passed through the garrison on the way to war and never returned.

“I find it difficult to understand the mentality of anyone who would do such a thing.”

Wiltshire Police are appealing for anyone with information regarding the theft or its whereabouts to contact Acting Sergeant Andy Willcox on 101.