Memorial statue stolen from park

At least 5,000 people gathered at the memorial on Sunday

Thieves have stolen a town's war memorial from its plinth, just two days after 5,000 people gathered to mark their respect to victims of war.

The 5ft (1.5m) bronze statue of a soldier was taken from Nuneaton's Riversley Park early on Tuesday.

A council spokesman said he was outraged someone could steal a poignant symbol of dedication and sacrifice presumably for commercial gain.

The statue is the focal point of remembrance for Nuneaton and Bedworth.

It depicts an infantryman wearing a British Army uniform worn in the Boer War between 1899 and 1902.

Known as the South African War Memorial, it was situated on the Coton Road side of the park, opposite the Ex-serviceman's Club.

Dennis Harvey, leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, said the council would work closely with police to track down the thieves.

"In the meantime I would appeal to anyone who noticed any unusual activity in the Coton Road area during the night, or anyone who is offered a large quantity of bronze for reprocessing, to report the matter to the police."

The thieves are thought to have used an angle grinder to cut down the statue from its plinth.