Vandals have damaged a Nottinghamshire war memorial, just as a £20,000 repair project was being completed.
The memorial in Retford, which is of late Gothic design, bears the names of soldiers killed in both world wars.
It is thought the teenage offenders broke in on Monday night and as well as damaging a safety barrier, broke off several stone pinnacles.
The gang were filmed by CCTV and police have said they will make every effort to track them down.
A fund for the repairs reached its £20,000 target in April.
Work was expected to finish this month with a special rededication ceremony taking place on 17 August.
Repairs included polishing bronze plates, replacing missing chains and paving stones and re-cutting names which had become weathered.
The town's mayor Wendy Quigley said the culprits should be made to wear tabards detailing their actions at the rededication ceremony.
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