A LOCAL business has been celebrated for reinstalling three vandalised World War silhouettes in Newton-le-Willows - working for free over the weekend to ensure they were in place before Remembrance Day.

The team at Profix, a metal fabrication and welding company based in Sutton, carried out the deed as they had the tools at their disposal to bring the vandalised memorials back into the community.

Three 'Tommy' silhouettes were vandalised beyond repair in Newton and Earlestown this year, which angered many in the community and was labelled by Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron as a "disgusting act of disrespect" at the time.

St Helens Star: The vandalised Tommy silhouette from earlier in the yearThe vandalised Tommy silhouette from earlier in the year

The soldier memorials, which represent the soldiers who never returned from war, were created by the Royal British Legion in 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary since the end of the First World War.

With the RBL stopping making the soldiers, it was unlikely that they would have been replaced once they were removed by the council - until Profix stepped up to help out the community.

Marcus Allanson, director at Profix, said: "Since moving to Newton around seven years ago, I've been overwhelmed by the community spirit here. Everyone is always doing something to benefit the community or help others out."

"After seeing the vandalism of the Tommy soldiers, and the fact we had the facilities to remake them, I thought it was a no-brainer."

"We were only going to do the one to begin with, but decided to work on the whole three."

St Helens Star: The WWI memorial in Newton-le-WillowsThe WWI memorial in Newton-le-Willows

Working free of charge over the weekend in order to get the silhouettes back in place before Remembrance Day this Thursday, the team at Profix collaborated with other local companies to get the job done in time - who similarly gave up their time for free.

Profix have also worked hard to donate PPE during the first lockdown for key workers and NHS staff.

The new designs are erected at Willow Park on Southworth Road, Earlestown Town Hall and Newton Cemetery.