A MEMORIAL headstone is to be restored to its rightful place more than 30 years after it was smuggled away from developers to safety.

The stone tablet lists the Conservative Club members from Kidderminster, who were killed in the First World War.

It once stood at the Conservative Club in The Butts, Kidderminster, which was razed in the 1960s by Worcestershire County Council to make way for the town's ring road.

"A council officer happened to be around that day and saw the headstone," said county councillor Stephen Clee.

"He took it home and put in his barn at Blakedown, where it stayed ever since. The new owners of the property have now contacted me and given back the memorial stone."

The "delighted" councillor said the tablet could now be reinstated at the Conservative Club in Mill Street, Kidderminster.

He is appealing for relatives of any members whose loved ones died in the 1914-18 conflict to contact him, on 01299 402338.

"I've been doing some research about the people who were listed on the stone," Coun Clee said.

"We are planning to hold a ceremony at the club and I want to invite the relatives to attend the service, together with the Royal British Legion."

He said no date had been fixed for the ceremony, but it was likely to be sometime in January.