Awbridge war memorial badly damaged in car crash

The war memorial in Awbridge, located at the junction of Romsey Road and Dane Road, was found damaged in the early hours of Friday.

Photos show that the war memorial was found in a bad state, with the cross having been dislodged from its plinth and the blocks making up the plinth having shifted.

Debris can be seen surrounding the memorial, while wreaths are still sited there from last year's Remembrance Sunday.

The War Memorial (Image: Peter Allen) Tom Benson, the Rector of Awbridge All Saints Church, said that he was shocked by photos of the damage.

He said: “I do hope it can be repaired as soon as possible, as it is important. It needs to be immediately repaired. If people are upset by it, we will be holding them in our prayers.”

Grahame Jackson, chair of the Awbridge Parish Council, said: "Villagers are shocked by the destruction of their war memorial that is a focal point of the village.

"However, many residents have let the council know that they will support our efforts to repair the damage and reinstate the memorial."

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said: "We received a report that sometime overnight between Thursday, January 2 and Friday, January 3, a vehicle had collided with the Awbridge War Memorial in Awbridge.

"Enquiries are underway to establish the circumstances."