A WAR memorial in Penn erected more than 80 years ago is set to be refurbished in an attempt to recapture its former glory.

The memorial, which stands by the Crown pub in Church Road, was set up in 1921 to commemorate those who have sacrified their lives in the service of their country.

However, it is now suffering from the effects of time and air pollution. It will be cleaned using high-pressure water jets later this month.

The idea was first suggested to Penn Parish Council by the Penn and Tylers Green Victory Celebrations group, which was looking for a good use of spare funds raised from events last year to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The group offered £13,500 to be put towards the cleaning process, and the parish council wrote to the War Memorial Trust to get quotes.

The final cost of refurbishing the memorial is expected to be in the region of £18,000, with the rest of the money coming from English Heritage.

Miles Green, parish clerk, said: "We were approached to ask if we would like to support this and we said yes.

"We have some photographs of the memorial when it was put up and it was almost white.

I don't think it will be returned to pristine condition, but it will certainly be an improvement."