VANDALS have been condemned after covering the war memorial in Bournemouth Central Gardens with graffiti just days before Remembrance Sunday.

Yesterday morning Bournemouth Borough Council's graffiti team was out cleaning off the daubings with pressure washers before Sunday's service.

Members of the team said that the war memorial is defaced most weekends of the year by groups of youths who use it as a meeting point.

War veteran Bob Wheatley, chairman of Bournemouth and Boscombe Royal British Legion, condemned the graffiti but said that Remembrance Sunday commands respect from the majority of young people.

He said: "It's a lack of education by schools not informing them what Remembrance Sunday is all about. When you get a group of youths they do it for a buzz and for kicks.

"A similar thing happened three years ago and we thought it was disgusting and disgraceful."

However, Poppy Appeal funds seem to be increasing year on year due to people realising that money raised also goes to soldiers who may have fought in the more recent wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, he added.

"People are beginning to realise that the Remembrance Day is not just for First World War and Second World War but all ex-service people," he said.

A spokesman for the council said that it cleans up the war memorial "as and when graffiti is there" and said it was impossible to estimate the cost to taxpayers per year.

Cleaning of the war memorial is made "a high priority" around the period of Remembrance Sunday, added the spokesman.

Cllr David Smith, cabinet member for communities, said the graffiti was "especially upsetting" just before Remembrance Sunday.

"Those responsible for the vandalism should reconsider their actions and show respect to those people who lost their lives to enable us have the freedom and lifestyle we have today.