AN ACT of "desecration" at a war memorial in Germoe has sparked outrage among those who care for the site.

A passing villager was shocked to see a group of young people climbing up to the monument's cross in front of a large crowd.

The man, who did not wish to be named, took this picture of the scene, which he then passed to the parish council.

Parish clerk Colin Chapman said: "We have reported it to Helston police.

"What we want is information about the group and, at the very least, an apology from them."

The memorial to soldiers killed in action was built on top of Tregonning Hill following the First World War.

Upkeep of the memorial is paid for by the local community and in the past five-years about £5,000 has gone into its preservation.

Mr Chapman said he was angered by the lack of consideration for other people and for those killed in the war.

He said: "I'm of the generation who can remember how things were after the war. This is disgraceful."

His sentiments were echoed by the Royal British Legion (RBL).

County chairman Clive Rawson said: "I was shocked to see the photograph. The Germoe memorial lies within the boundary of the Breage branch of the Legion which, along with my capacity as the county chairman, I am responsible for.

"In Britain we take pride in our free society. We have laws to protect people from racial, sexual and religious discrimination yet the memorials in place to honour our fallen have no such protection, leaving them open to an ever-increasing level of abuse.

"To see these young people committing this act of desecration with such apparent enthusiasm defies belief. I am sure that if confronted they would apologise. However, it is a sad indictment of today's society when young people cannot see, without being told, that they are committing a vile act in showing such disrespect to a memorial dedicated to those who have given their lives for freedom.

"It is not just those on the memorial, but also those who remained silent while these antics took place.

"They are all guilty."