AN OTLEY war memorial targeted by thieves more than a decade ago will be fully restored for Remembrance Day.

Bronze roll of honour plaques from both the Memorial Gardens on Bondgate and Grove Hill Park were stolen in July, 2007, sparking outrage in the town.

The Grove Hill Park memorial listed the names of all the men from Otley Mills who had fought in the First and Second World Wards.

Although its main plaque was replaced within a few months, the list of names for the remembrance plaques was incomplete due to a lack of supporting records - causing many to fear the identity of some of the soldiers had been lost forever.

Now though, thanks to help from Otley Mills and Otley Museum, the full list has been recovered and the new plaques are set to be unveiled this November.

Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) said: "Unfortunately the originals were stolen some time ago and we have been trying to the find full details of the missing names so we could get replacements made.

"Thanks to the help of Otley Mills, who erected the memorial, and of Otley Museum a complete list has been obtained and will be transferred to new plaques which will be in place for this year’s Remembrance Day.

"Sadly, we have not been able to obtain a copy of the soldier which once stood on the top of the memorial."

The bronze statue of a World War I soldier which used to stand on top of the park's memorial was stolen in 2005 and never recovered.

The memorial's plaque states that it and the park were dedicated by Wm Ackroyd and Co Ltd and Duncan, Barraclough and Co Ltd "as a tribute to and in perpetual remembrance of the men from Otley Mills who fought for the safety and honour of their country in the war 1914-18.

"And all members of Otley Mills in the Second World War 1939-1945."