War plaques compensation claimed

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Some of the recovered plaques were damaged

The Commonwealth War Grave Commission has lodged a claim for compensation for the theft of bronze plaques from a war memorial in Devon.

One was stolen from the Royal Navy war memorial on Plymouth Hoe hours after a Veterans' Day parade in June and three others were taken the following day.

They were recovered, but two have to be recast because they were so damaged.

The commission said the amount of compensation would be determined by the the courts.

Work on the plaques is being carried out by specialists in Australia but it could take up to 18 months to replace them.

Three men have been arrested in connection with the theft and released on bail.

The plaques, which list the names of some of the Royal Navy's war dead, were in the process of being restored by the commission when they were stolen.