A war memorial in Abbots Langley that commemorates service personnel who lost their lives in the First World War is in need of restoration according to a local organisation.

The newly formed Abbots Langley War Memorial Fund is appealing to members of the public to donate and support the necessary restoration work, and have approached Abbots Langley Parish Council with the intention of securing a community service grant.

The team are trying to raise £16,000 to carry out the work on the memorial which is located in the St Lawrence Churchyard and was erected in 1920. They have already managed to secure a grant from the War Memorial Trust.

Richard Baldwin, chairman of the Abbots Langley War Memorial Fund, said: "Over the years the names have worn away and it was decided back in April that we would get a community to raise funds for the repairs."

The war memorial belongs to the people of Abbots Langley and so the upkeep remains their responsibility. However, in the past the parish council has contributed towards repairs. The last restoration was done 12 years ago which involved cleaning and some repair work.

This round of work would include reinstating the names of war soldiers who died in the First World War on granite plaques set into the ground around the perimeter of the memorial.

Mr Baldwin said: "The appeal which was launched at the Abbots Langley Carnival has had a tremendous response and to date we have received in donations and sponsorship a total of £2,974.82 plus a grant offer of £1,622 from the War Memorial Trust and promises of grants from other local organisations."

The English Heritage has advised them against re-cutting the names into Portland stone or weathering and erosion could happen more rapidly.

Mr Baldwin said: "The war memorial is an important monument for all of the community and with the forthcoming centenary anniversary of the First World War and the numbers of service personnel being killed around the world, there has never been a more poignant time for us to show our support."

The War Memorial Fund was set up in April to raise money to carry out the work on the memorial that is necessary for its upkeep.

Mr Baldwin said: "We will then be able to do annual maintenance so it doesn’t get to the state it’s in now."

To make a donation or for more information, contact Richard Baldwin on 01923 263566 or email richardwbaldwin@icloud.com