The only surviving relative of six firemen who died in a blast in 1916 has spoken of her heartbreak after a memorial in their honour has been defaced and had expensive stonework stolen from it.

The memorial in Scholemoor Cemetery, Bradford, honours the firemen who perished in a gas explosion at Low Moor Chemical Works in 1916.

But a granite balustrade has now been stripped from it during the theft of stone from the cemetery.

Edith Bower, 82, was a baby when her father, Fred Normington, perished in the blaze which claimed a total of 39 lives when the blast ripped the gas works apart. Today, spoke of her horror at the damage caused to the memorial.

Mrs Bower, of Eccleshill, Bradford, said: "I was only ten weeks old when my father died but I spent the early part of my life hearing stories about his bravery. I feel awful that this has happened, it's disgusting.

"I'm very old now and I think I'm the only surviving relative of anyone who died. It's terrible that thieves have done this."

Sean Cahill, of the Fire Brigade Union, branded the vandalism a "disgrace." He said: "It's a tragic event and of very great concern that the memory of the firemen who perished in 1916 has been tarnished like this. For it to be defaced is unbelievable and a sad reflection of the way that society is going."

A spokesman for Bradford Council's Recreation Division confirmed that some stone had been stolen from Scholemoor Cemetery. "We already patrol our cemeteries regularly and liaise very closely with the police and we are now looking at other measures such as locking some cemetery gates during the evening or night to prevent vehicles from getting into the grounds."

Councillor Barry Thorne, chairman of the Council's leisure service committee, said: "There aren't many things sicker than stealing from someone's grave or a memorial like this."

Anyone with information should contact the Council, the Police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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