Kind-hearted builders have replaced a plaque stolen from Brentwood's war memorial free of charge.
As first reported in the Gazette on October 31, thieves stole the plaque, which bore the names of some of those servicemen who died during the Second World War, at some point before October 30, when Brentwood Borough Council reported the theft to Essex Police.
Following the theft, the council contacted historical builders Bakers of Danbury to repair the cenotaph - which can be found at the junction of Shenfield Road and Middleton Hall Lane - in time for Remembrance Sunday.
Now, in an unexpected gesture, the firm has agreed to waive its fee for carrying out the work.
The news emerged in a letter circulated to all members of the council by its asset and technical manager Adrian Tidbury.
Mr Tidbury wrote: "I have received a call from Bakers advising me that the replacement plaque has
been fitted and further morem as a mark of their generosity and
disgust over the theft, have offered to fund the replacement plaque as a mark
of their respect for the memorial."
"I have thanked Bakers on behalf of the council for their generosity."