'Disgust' as racist word scratched onto war memorial
BBCVeterans have said a war memorial being defaced with a racist word has left them saddened and disgusted.
A police investigation is under way after a Tommy soldier, which forms part of the Marlowe Way Memorial in Royal Wootton Bassett, was defaced with hateful graffiti.
The life-sized Tommy Statue is used across the country to pay tribute to UK soldiers killed in conflicts.
Ruth Warren, who served in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force for 14 years and lives in the town, said: "I am disgusted. Imagine if someone scrawled on your mum or dad's grave and how that would feel."
Warren, who is blind, initially served as a fighter plotter at RAF Fazakerley with the 3611 fighter control unit, before returning to civilian life.
She added: "The statues were not doing any harm and are a nice gesture to pay tribute."
Meanwhile, a Royal British Legion spokesperson said they were "saddened" to hear of the damage.
The spokesperson added: "War memorials and graves honour the memory of every member of the Armed Forces who has made the ultimate sacrifice and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect."
Nearby CCTV cameras captured a group approaching the memorial and later "running off" in the direction of Gainsborough Avenue.
The footage was passed to police, a town council spokesperson confirmed.
In a statement, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council spokesperson said: "The Marlowe Way Memorial has been vandalised, with offensive words scratched into one of the Tommy silhouettes.
"Wiltshire Police received a report from a resident, who intervened to stop further damage; thank you for stepping in and reporting the incident."
Police added they are aware of the incident and that officers are working to identify those involved.
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