'Scumbags' blasted after tearing down Wigan community's Poppy Appeal posters

In recent weeks volunteers have been mounting dozens of placards on lampposts and telegraph poles around Aspull and New Springs to promote the annual Royal British Legion campaign, which is feared to suffer financial hardships this year due to the pandemic restrictions and this week’s national lockdown.

But the local efforts to give the crusade a higher profile have been undermined by louts who have taken it upon themselves to go round tearing the posters down again.

Local councillor John Hilton, who is chair of Aspull Royal British Legion and a former mayor of Wigan, today spoke of his disgust at the attacks.

“I find this behaviour abominable. The police have been informed and are looking into it. We have a pretty good idea who is responsible too,” Coun Hilton said.

“What the parents of these young people think they are doing goodness only knows. But these scumbags have been going out of their way to cut down these posters.

“They have attacked about 20 so far and just scattered them around. Thankfully they haven’t really been damaged and so volunteers have been putting them back up wherever possible. A ladder is needed to mount them, but I can only assume that those responsible for taking them down are standing on a friend’s shoulders.

“A worrying second issue about this is that those responsible must also be going around with blades in their pockets because the tetherings have been cleanly cut. So not only is this totally disrespectful to our current and ex-services personnel, it is also creating a community danger.

“I don’t like thinking of young people walking around armed with Stanley knives.”

Coun Hilton urged anyone who spots any further acts of criminal behaviour of this nature – or knows who struck on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings – to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here and viewing our offers ...