TOOLS stolen in a heartless burglary on a veteran's project will be replaced, thanks to a £2,500 donation from the Royal British Legion.

The Veterans' Forge, Oakwood Farm, Corfe Castle, Purbeck, was targeted last month.

Established less than a year ago, the project offers therapeutic sessions to veterans from all over the county as well as training for local students.

They visit for one or two days, to learn blacksmith skills, as part of therapy for mental or physical disabilities.

The week of the burglary volunteers were working on a metal beacon to be lit at Ballard Down, Swanage, on Armistice Day. This beacon, one of more than 1,200 lit across the country to mark the 100th anniversary since the end of The Great War, was finished with borrowed welding gear.

Veterans' Forge organiser Will Spicer, who has praised the "amazing support" from the local community following the break-in, no says they'll be able to replace the stolen tools.

Meanwhile, Dorset Royal British Legion chairman Ian Jarvis said: "For this theft to take place during Remembrance Tide whilst the forge was preparing poppies for sale and also manufacturing the beacon which was to be used as part of a Nationwide project shows that these thieves are heartless.

"I am hoping that our gesture will show the other side of humanity.

"The forge provides a unique facility for our veterans and helps them in so many ways that we cannot stand by and do nothing."

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the burglary, which took place on November 6, Police Constable Tom Renshaw, of Purbeck police, said: "This has caused a great deal of upset and inconvenience to a project that is trying to support veterans and the local community and we are determined to identify those responsible."

The police are anxious to hear from anyone who comes across specialist blacksmith tools or equipment being offered for sale in unusual circumstances.

Anyone with information about the break-in is asked to call Dorset Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 55180180224 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.