An appeal has been launched to restore a memorial to six firemen who died in an explosion in 1916.

Relatives of the six, who perished in a gas explosion at Low Moor Chemical Works during the First World War, were heartbroken when the memorial was defaced by vandals and had parts of its ornate stonework stolen.

But now Bradford firefighters are hoping to return the memorial in Scholemoor cemetery to its former glory.

Station Officer Neil Butterworth, said: "This is one of the few memorials that we have in Bradford to the war period and we have very few memorials that actually mean something to the fire service.

"It's a very emotive story when you hear about the firemen being blown up. But it wasn't just the firemen who were killed, around 40 people died in the explosion and it's a tribute to them as well.

"It seems sad to leave something like this go to vandals. I feel very sad that there are people out there who do things like this which is basically grave robbing."

Mr Butterworth said it would cost around £25,000 to replace the balustrade which formed a wall around the memorial because it was made from expensive Scottish granite.

He said: "We couldn't afford to pay £25,000 to replace the granite so what we're looking for is any relatives of the victims to come forward and tell us how they would like to see the memorial restored."

Edith Bower, 82, whose firefighter father Fred Normanton was one of those killed in the blast, spoke of her outrage after the memorial was vandalised last year.

She said: "I was only ten weeks' old when my father died but I spent the early years of my life hearing stories about his bravery. I feel awful that this has happened."

Mr Butterworth said because the memorial had been paid for by public subscription when it was erected in 1924, it was not the responsibility of Bradford Council, cemetery authorities, or the fire brigade to pay for the restorations. Instead public donations would be needed again.

However, he said the fire service would be making a donation to the restoration fund and firemen from the Fairweather Green station would be allowed to tend the memorial as part of their work duties.

Anyone who would like to make a donation can call Ian Midgley on (01274) 705209.