Thanks to £6,000 funding from the War Memorials Trust, the War Memorial in Huthwaite is one of an initial four in Ashfield district to be cleaned.

Having been successful in each of its four submitted bids, the district council has received half of the costs of the repair and maintenance required. A further £6,000 has been invested by the authority.

The other memorials set to be restored in time for this year’s Remembrance Parades are Titchfield Park in Hucknall, Kingsway Old Cemetery in Kirkby and Sutton Cemetery on Huthwaite Road.

Works include cleaning, repointing, repairing surface damage to the stone and lettering repairs. The works have been carried out by Bonsers and Ashfield District Council’s Estates Team.

This marks the beginning of a rolling programme, which will see all the District’s war memorials cleaned and restored over the next few years.

Cllr Jason Zadrozny, leader of the council, said: “The council is committed to ensuring the memory of those who fought for our country is kept alive and is respected. The war memorials play an important part in that. Our plans for the restoration and maintenance will start with the four key war memorials, and will be completed in time for this year’s Remembrance Sunday events.

“As a council we work closely with local military groups and organisations on events including Armed Forces Day, Merchant Navy Day and not forgetting the epic poppy downfall that was put together to mark last year’s end of world war one centenary.

“We recognise the importance of maintaining war memorials, both in terms of heritage and community significance. These works will form part of an ongoing restoration and maintenance plan of our War Memorials.”

The War Memorials Trust is a charity that works to protect and conserve war memorials in the UK.