CIVIC leaders and relatives of Yeovil's war dead have spoken of their disgust and sadness after the town's war memorial was vandalised for the second time in two years.

Yeovil Town Council said thousands of pounds of damage may have been done after a man climbed the monument, bringing a stone column crashing to the ground in The Borough.

A CCTV image of the vandal, described as a white male, has been released by police, who are treating the incident as criminal damage. The council said it will seek to reclaim the cost of the damage from the culprit.

Those whose relatives are remembered on the memorial consider the damage as an act of desecration.

Dave Greene, South Somerset district councillor for Yeovil South, is particularly incensed.

His uncle, Wrefond Bagwall, lost his life at sea during the Second World War and has no grave, so the monument is the only memorial to him.

Mr Greene said: "What has happened is no different than someone going to desecrate a grave in my opinion.

"It is the lasting memorial to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, something that should be respected, not something that should be climbed on.

"They gave their tomorrows so that we could have our todays and our freedom."

One of the most recent names to be added to the memorial was that of Allan McAulay. He was among the crew lost in the sinking of HMS Ardent during the Falklands War in 1982.

His widow, Barbara, said: "It is not just names on a memorial, they mean something to somebody.

"It is with pride that I look at that name and remember. It is upsetting to think that it has been damaged.

"It means a lot to me. I look at his name on the memorial every time I go by. It sounds strange but I look at it to see if it is still there."

Peter Brock, chairman of Yeovil and District Royal British Legion, said: "The memorial is not just the main focal point for Armistice Day and Remembrance Day.

"It is also not just for those served in the past, it is for those who are currently serving and even those who aren't involved in the services. It means an awful lot to them."

Tony Lock, chairman of the town council's buildings and civic matters committee, and Yeovil mayor Phil Chandler called for help catching the culprit.

Two years ago a 16-year-old youth caused £3,300 damage to the monument, sparking outrage in the town.

Following an appeal in the Western Gazette, the teenager was caught and sentenced to a 12-month rehabilitation order and ordered to pay £100 in compensation.

He later apologised and helped Royal British Legion poppy sellers as part of his punishment.

Arrangements are being made by the town council for the monument to be repaired ahead of Remembrance Sunday in November.

The memorial dates back to 1921 and bears the name of 236 Yeovil men killed in the First World War, as well as the names of servicemen and civilians killed in the Second World War and in more recent conflicts.

Anyone with any information about the incident can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

The CCTV footage can also be viewed at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk