War memorial made listed building

A Kent town's war memorial has been designated a listed building after the local council realised it did not have protected status.

Sevenoaks District Council applied for the memorial to be listed in an attempt to protect it for future generations.

The memorial depicts a British soldier in World War I resting his hands on an upturned rifle with the names of fallen soldiers on the pedestal he stands on.

The war memorial cost £5,000 when it was built in the 1920s.

Sevenoaks mayor, Councillor Robert Piper, said: "The council recently discovered the war memorial was not a listed building and decided it was important that such a distinctive memorial was protected.

"We are delighted that it has been listed and will therefore remain as a reminder to all of the sacrifice of many in past conflicts."

The listed status was granted by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.