Fury as yobs in quiet UK town destroy and throw eggs at poppy display
Locals have condemned the acts of vandalism as "sickening" and "disrespectful", just days before Remembrance Sunday.
Residents in a small UK village have been left furious by a "sickening" act of vandalism to a poppy display. Swindon Parish Council is among the local authorities displaying the commemorative flowers along their high streets ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
The Staffordshire village commissioned a number of large poppies on lampposts alongside a metal soldier figure late last month. But just days after they were installed, the decorations were targeted by vandals.
Concillor Lesley Page said the poppies were found "damaged" on Sunday morning, with eggs also thrown at a nearby chapel window. She told Stourbridge News: "It was discovered that some of the poppies have been damaged and eggs thrown at the chapel window. It's sickening that anyone could be so disrespectful, but we won't be beaten."
Ms Page said she and local poppy coordinator Beverley Wood had already replaced the display. "Everything was installed recently and the village has had many compliments," she added.
Other Swindon residents were similarly outraged, with one writing on Facebook: "Where has the respect gone... [they] probably don't even understand the concept of Remembrance Sunday or what the poppies represent... shame on them."
Another said: "Absolutely disgusting [...] I drive through Swindon on work days and was so impressed to see all the poppies displayed on the lampposts [...] Very sorry that this has happened."
Remembrance Day marks the day World War One ended, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Remembrance Sunday is also marked each year, with this year falling on November 8.
A period of silence is observed around the country at 11am to remember those who have died in wars around the world, with a number of events held across the UK.
