NEW plaques remembering Farnworth's war dead are ready to be put on the town's memorial.

A rededication ceremony is being planned in Farnworth Park for Remembrance Sunday in November.

The new plaques will finally grace the war memorial after the originals were sawn off and stolen by thieves more than 12 months ago.

And hundreds of names that were found to be missing from the plaques will be included on the new ones.

Councillors have given up hope of recovering the stolen plaques, but they have welcomed the return the names of the war dead to their rightful place in the middle of the town.

Cllr Noel Spencer said: "We want to make sure that everybody with Farnworth connections who gave service to their country is remembered.

"We are also ensuring that all those who lost their lives in other conflicts like Borneo and the Falklands will be honoured."

Council bosses have made sure that the new plaques will be more secure to deter future attacks by vandals.

Cllr Spencer said: "It caused quite a stir when it dawned on us that some of the Second World War dead were not on the original plaques."

Gangs of teenagers in Farnworth Park were blamed for graffiti attacks on the memorial. It is believed that police have identified the offenders and have taken action against them.

Last Remembrance Sunday, organisers were forced to put the names of war veterans on laminated boards to honour those who lost their lives following the loss of the plaques.

The war memorial has suffered from a spate of vandal attacks and was damaged in July when yobs sprayed graffiti on it and smashed the stonework with hammers.