WORK on a town’s war memorial is due to begin.

Millom’s war memorial will see its paths renovated after winning an improvement grant.

The war memorial itself was repaired last year in time for the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.

And now work will take place to repair the paths around it.

Millom Town Council released a notice from Joan Hobbs, of Friends of Millom War Memorial, telling residents about the work and asking people not to encroach on the memorial.

It said: “Work will be starting shortly to remove the old, broken pathways and new concrete ones laid.

“During the four of four weeks this will take the whole area will be cordoned off with fencing.

“Please observe this restriction, which will be removed as soon as safety dictates.

“If you see anyone interfering with anything on site, please report it to Millom Town Council or police.

“Your co-operation is greatly appreciated.

“May we all enjoy the renovations in this special area of our town for many years to come.”

The war memorial in Cambridge Street has stood for almost 100 years.

In 2013, Copeland Borough Council, which had maintained the memorial and surrounding flowerbeds, announced it would be withdrawing those services due to budget cuts.

This development resulted in a community backlash, and a group of protesters staged a 271-second sit-in protest, with each second representing a name engraved on the monument.

Since then, the Friends of Millom War Memorial volunteers have ensured its upkeep.

Millom councillor Angela Dixon said Mrs Hobbs had been working on getting funding for the work for the last two years, with money provided by the WREN foundation.

She said: “Joan has done an unbelievable job with the war memorial and worked so hard over the past two years.

“It is so important that we remember those who fought for us.

“Hopefully this means by the next Remembrance Sunday in November we will have a war memorial that looks as good as new."