RESIDENTS have taken to social media to voice their anger after a remembrance silhouette in a church yard was vandalised.

The ‘Silent Soldier’ figure, is said to have been in the church yard since 2018 and was produced by the Royal British Legion.

Eastleigh Borough Council bought the statues and they were handed out to various parishes to be placed in public spaces.

Now though, residents are angry after the silhouette located at The Priory Church of St Andrew the Apostle on High Street in Hamble-le-Rice, was ‘decapitated’ on Tuesday.

Vicar, Graham Whiting said: “A couple of residents have put it on Facebook as they saw the figure had been decapitated.

“I think it’s upset the local village because in Hamble there are strong military connections and it is quite disturbing to see it was literally beheaded.

“A lot of people have connections with people that fought in the war and turn up for remembrance Sunday so the thought that someone could do this is quite upsetting.

“It is in an area where people should have respect.”

The vicar has now removed the figure from the church yard and put it in the church for safe keeping as he said it looked a bit “unsightly” now.

A spokesperson from Hamble Parish Council said: “Naturally residents are very upset with this mindless act of vandalism; as a result there are plans to replace the damaged sculpture with a new one and in a safer location to avoid further damage.”

Paul Holmes, MP for Eastleigh said: “Any act of vandalism should be condemned but I am extremely disappointed that someone has chosen damage the Silent Solider figure which honours the those who lost their lives in WW1.

“I know the individual responsible does not represent the community in Hamble who played an active role in the Remembrance Sunday commemorations just weeks ago.

“I hope that the Silent Solider can be either repaired or replaced swiftly.”