A MEMORIAL in a Somerset town to those who died during the First World War has been damaged just days before the centenary of the end of the conflict.

The bespoke glass front of the Poppy of Honour, in Wincanton, was smashed in an incident on October 19.

The 8ft glass and steel sculpture which is located in Cale Park, was only unveiled to the public on October 6.

It contains the handwritten names of more than a million men and women who went missing or were killed during the war.

Terry Williams, who organised the fundraising appeal for the memorial, described the incident as a "senseless act of violence".

He added: "Resin has been applied to temporarily fix cracks but will require the whole glass panel replaced as soon as its practicable.

"I can only state that I feel that the person/persons involved acted out of frustration rather than a wilful act of vandalism.

"Please, what is done is done, it's time to move on and promote the Poppy of Honour as a memorial not as a victim."

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: "As part of our inquiry we're keen to speak to three men aged in their late teens or early twenties who were seen acting suspiciously in the area at the time of the incident.

"Two of the men were wearing grey jogging bottoms while the other wore blue jeans along with a black fleece."