A WIDOW has spoken of her outrage after callous vandals ripped up and stole her late husband's memorial plaque from Blenheim Gardens, in Minehead.

Pensioner Iris Collins is devastated by the teenage gang's attack just weeks before the first anniversary of her husband Frederick's death.

Mrs Collins, of Woodcombe Brake, has been combing the gardens in a bid to find the plaque which was with a tree of remembrance planted last year.

Eye witnesses said the boys may have thrown the brass plaque into the bushes when they fled from the scene after also smashing a window on the bandstand and trying unsuccessfully to break into the potting shed.

Mr Collins, who died aged 73, was a popular and well-respected member of the community and chairman of the Minehead branch of the Royal British Legion.

The couple, married for 13 years and together for 28, used to run the café Grillotines in The Avenue.

Mrs Collins said: "I cannot believe that anyone could do such a thing. I hope they are very proud of the despicable and cowardly act they have committed.

"I was actually told by the district council's groundsman and we both looked all over Blenheim Gardens and in the bushes but found nothing."

Mrs Collins said she will now be paying £108 to have a new plaque replaced in the same spot.

"This could not have happened at a worse time with it being almost a year ago since he died. Unless I find the plaque, which I doubt I will, I'll have to buy a new one."

She added: "Frederick fought in Burma at the age of 17 and a half to make this country a better place to live in - and for the likes of these people to live in peace.

"He was well-loved in Minehead and this came as a big shock when I heard what they had done."

Mrs Collins said that, from speaking to people who were in Blenheim Gardens at the time, it emerged that the youths involved may have been local.

A spokesman for Minehead police said investigations were still on-going. Anyone with information should contact the police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.