Town councillor Sheila Smales was shocked on Monday morning to find that a plaque in memory of her late husband Raymond Smales had been ripped from its fixing to a lamp post on South Street.

She also found flowers from the hanging basket, which is part of the memorial, strewn across a grass verge.

The plaque, inscribed with the words, ‘In memory of Raymond Smales’, has not been found.

Coun Smales, 79, said: “Why have they taken the plaque? I just don’t know. They must have climbed up the lamppost to get to it.

“My husband was greatly admired in Normanton. He was a very popular mayor, and that is the sad thing about it. I just don’t think people today understand the past.

“It is appalling that somebody would destroy it.”

Mr Smales was the mayor of Normanton in 1984 and died 18 years ago.

After his death his wife, now deputy town council leader, helped set up a memorial scheme so that Normanton residents could pay for a plaque and hanging basket to remember their late loved ones.

Police said they were investigating the incident.