A HIT and run driver slammed into the wall around a war memorial just weeks after a £13,500 restoration.

The project in Bridge of Weir involved cleaning the granite Celtic cross, replacing and repainting missing letters, pointing, replacing damaged stonework and cleaning and painting the ironwork fencing round the memorial.

During the work, the name of Private James McClure, who served in the 7th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and was killed in action at Flanders in November 1916, was added to the roll of the fallen.

Local people discovered the memorial had been damaged by a hit and run driver who sped away from the scene.

Eddie Devine, convener of Renfrewshire Council's environment policy board, said: "This year is the centenary of the start of World War I.

"Across the country, millions of people are making a special effort to honour those who gave their lives for our freedom.

"In this spirit, the council has been working to restore all of Renfrewshire's war memorials to pristine condition.

"This makes it all the more disappointing that a vehicle has clearly struck the memorial and the driver has simply driven off.

"The stone gatepost at the entrance to the memorial has been badly damaged.

"However, we will ensure the memorial is made safe and that the Remembrance Sunday service can go ahead on November 9."

Mr Devine urged anyone with information to contact the police on l01.

The council has said it will ensure the boundary wall is repaired to the same standard as the restoration work but that will have to be after Sunday's service.

vivienne.nicoll@eveningtimes.co.uk