PLANS to scrape funds together to repair a badly damaged war memorial to Worcestershire’s soldiers are underway.

Richard Greenway, aged 54, visited Geluveld, in Zonnerbeck, Belgium, during a self-guided battlefield tour. He was shocked to discover the state of the memorial which honours 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, who fought in the small town - also known as Gheluvelt.

The regiment were called to defend the town after the Germans broke through the Allied defensive line on the morning of October 31 1914.

With an easy route to the Channel ports and 13 German Battalions on the charge, the battle - and the regiment’s victory - was of strategic importance.

The city’s Gheluvelt park is named in honour of the battle.

Mr Greenway said: “I was upset to find the memorial in a poor condition with no reference to any names.

“Not only have the bricks started shattering, but the mortar is falling apart, and salt deposits are staining the brick and water damage is evident. It is seriously affecting the quality of visitor’s experience. I had relatives that were in the Worcestershire Regiment, and I was appalled that this memorial has been somewhat neglected.”

Mr Greenway offered his services as a landscape architect to re-design the site whilst finishing the basic repairs needed. Being conscious of the limited funds, he managed to secure free engineering bricks from Weinberger Bricks.

A Worcester bricklayer also agreed to fix the repairs with no charge, while Mr Greenway offered to sponsor his accommodation and travel expenses.

However, the Mercian Regiment rejected the proposal and instead have funded £6,000 to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is responsible for the memorial.

Cllr Adrian Gregson has offered to donate £250 towards the memorials restoration and Mr Greenway will match the funds from his company, Greenway Landscape Architect.