Fourteen brass plaques have been stolen from a war memorial.

The plaques disappeared from the war memorial at Honeywood Lodge Heritage Centre, in Carshalton, between 12pm on Wednesday, September 28, and 12pm on Thursday, September 29.

It appears the plaques, which features the names of more than 240 men from Sutton killed in battle, were levered from their fixings.

Detective chief inspector Alan Chambers, from Sutton Police station, said the theft showed a complete lack of respect to those members of the armed services who had paid the ultimate sacrifice when serving their country.

Police believe the plaques may have been stolen to be sold on as scrap metal for a few pounds.

The theft follows the discovery last week a £6000 bronze bell had been stolen from St Oswald's Church in North Cheam.

More than 150 bronze plates were recently stolen from the gardens of remembrance in Croydon cemetery.

The memorial was unveiled on 13 March 1921. Servicemen remembered on its plaques included George Allen Victor, a 19-year-old errand boy, who lived in Avenue Villas.

It is thought he lied about his age and that he may have been even younger when he enlisted in 1915. He served with the Border Regiment and was one of 639 men killed on the first day of the Battle of Somme.

Councillor Graham Tope, Executive Member for Community Safety, Leisure and Libraires at Sutton Council, said: “This is a disgraceful crime and one that will devastate the families of the armed service personnel who bravely gave their lives in the war."

"The war memorial is an important landmark in our community and for it to be vandalised in this way, just a month before Remembrance Sunday, is disgusting.

“The people who did this must have known what they were doing, and it’s awful to think of the plaques being sold as scrap metal.

“If anyone is offered them or knows who committed this appalling crime, I’d urge them to phone the police.”

Anyone with information that could help police with their enquiries can contact Sutton police station on 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.