A MEMORIAL dedicated to Hedd Wyn, the poet killed in the First World War who was posthumously awarded the Eisteddfod chair in 1917, has been vandalised with paint.

The memorial, which is in the centre of the village, is dedicated to the poet who was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele.

It is also dedicated to the men in the village who fought and died in the conflict.

Cllr Hefin Wyn Jones is on Trawsfynydd Community Council. He is angry paint was thrown on the memorial and that it has been shown such “disregard”.

He said: “I was informed of the vandalism by a fellow community councillor on Thursday morning (26 August) and like everyone I have since spoken to, I am angered that the (Hedd Wyn) memorial has had paint thrown on it.”

Cllr Jones added: “Although the paint can easily be removed, it is the thought that someone has such disregard for a memorial that represents all the men from Trawsfynydd that lost their lives in the First World War.

“The matter has been reported to the police, and we are confident that the nearby CCTV will have captured the culprit.”

Nesta Hughes, who lives in the village, was “disgusted” by the incident and said others in the village feel the same way.

She said: “All the village people who I have spoken to are absolutely disgusted with the behaviour.

“Hedd Wyn represents all the local young men that was killed in the First World War.

“He was not more important than any of them but because he was a well known and respected poet, it brings to mind all the men that were killed in the senseless awful war.”

She added: “I volunteer in his home, the Yr Ysgwrn Cartref Hedd Wyn, and there is still so much interest in the history and the heritage.”

The incident was reported to North Wales police who attended the scene on Thursday afternoon.

Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

A spokesperson for the police said: “We were called shortly before 1pm on Thursday, 26 August to report that a statue of Hedd Wyn, in the town centre of Trawsfynydd, had been defaced with paint. Officer enquiries into this incident are ongoing.”