VANDALS have been told to "respect the memory" of soldiers who served their country after the spate of attacks on war memorials continued.

A Silent Soldier statute in Ferndown town centre was damaged at the end of last week.

The incident follows a series of acts across Dorset and the second statute in Ferndown to be targeted.

Grant Parrott, chairman of the Royal British Legion Ferndown Branch, said: "Firstly, can I thank the town council for acting so quickly to replace the figure which in itself gives an answer to whoever did this.

"This is the second of our town's Silent Soldiers to be damaged, which is hard to believe represents the Ferndown that we know and are proud to be part of.

"These silhouette figures are not there to glorify past wars, they are there to remind us of the cost in human lives of going to war, of the sacrifice of a generation lost and a legacy that it must never be allowed to happen again.

"If someone feels so strongly that it is wrong to learn that lesson, then come forward, use the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press that that generation and the next won for us today to give your reasons.

"Respect the memory, don't try to destroy it because in the eyes of the many who live in our town - you won't.''

Last week, a display boat in Westbourne marking 100 years of the RAF was vandalised.

Previously, a brick was thrown through the glass casing on a First World War memorial information board in Fampoux Gardens, Charminster.

Vandals also targeted another Westbourne Rotary project days after the first incident in Ferndown.