A WAR memorial in Abergavenny will be spruced up after concerns were raised about its condition by a former RAF serviceman.

Michael Prys-Williams, 79, of Gavenny Way, Abergavenny, called for work to be carried out to maintain the memorial in Frogmore Street, built in 1921. As a member of the Abergavenny branch of the Royal British Legion he said he was concerned about its condition ahead of the freedom of the town being given to the Royal Welsh Regiment on July 15.

Mr Prys-Williams said he pushed to get funding for repairs in 2005 as a town councillor, when cleaning of the bronze statue was undertaken. But since that time, he said no work has been done to maintain the structure.

The resident is concerned the memorial is leaning slightly to one side and that there are weeds surrounding the structure. In 2014, specialist contractors estimated work to correct the structure’s leaning to one side, as well as cleaning the bronze statue to remove corrosion would cost around £16,000.

“As we have travelled around the country and observed memorials which have been restored with the central government grant, I feel ashamed that we are unable to maintain our unique memorial in memory of those who served in the First World War,” Mr Prys-Williams said, in a report which he presented to Abergavenny Town Council.

Mr Prys-Williams, who served in the RAF as part of his national service, said the town council had said it would contact the county council regarding the work to weed and tidy the structure.

He said: “It is a unique memorial, there is not another one like it in the UK.”

A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said they will arrange for the war memorial to be cleaned before the ceremony in July. Royal Welsh are granted the freedom of the town in July’s ceremony.”