DISGUST at the desecration of a Cleveland war memorial brought a generous gesture from an association dedicated to those who died in the First World War.

The local branch of the Western Front Association rallied round after vandals spilled paint, dumped rubbish and kicked poppies from wreaths at the Egglescliffe site.

Mr Mike Hutchinson, branch chairman, sent off a cheque for £50 to help repair the damage and told the D&S Times: "I thought it was the least we could do. I wish we could have done more.

"We were predominantly formed from the Great War but when I read the story I was disgusted that they had spent so much money renovating the memorial and this happened so close to Armistice Day."

Mr Hutchinson, a restaurant manager, was due to arrive in Flanders this weekend for the Armistice celebrations at the Menin Gate near Ypres.

"I have been taking coach parties of about 50 people for the past six years now. We will be there on Armistice Day. In Flanders they take it very seriously and it is a bank holiday. They have more pride than we seem to have and everyone observes the two-minute silence.

He added: "The louts who did the damage at Egglescliffe ought to just think that they might not be here today if it hadn't been for the people whose names are on the memorial."

Mrs Helen Rennison, clerk to the council said it was very grateful for the £50 contribution.

"We have never been helped with the cost of repairs to anything before.