VANDALS ripped off a plaque commemorating the lifesaving trains that saved thousands of children from Nazis persecution from a memorial and threw it over the seawall.

Harwich councillor Garry Calver funded the bench and Kindertransport plaque in Harbour Crescent in March 2011 with his small schemes budget.

The idea was to create a space for people to visit that marked the achievement of the Kindertransport, which brought about 10,000 children on train and boat to England to safety.

Most came via Harwich where many stayed at the former Warners holiday camp in Dovercourt before being sent on to host families around the country.

Others were housed at the Salvation Army hostel and some with local families.

Harbour Crescent in Harwich, which runs along the seafront, is a road all the children coming the Harwich port from Europe to escape the Nazis would have passed by on their journey.

Mr Calver said: "Mindless vandalism is always disappointing but in this particular circumstance it represents a lack of respect of the very important history that Harwich should be very proud of.

"Possibly if those responsible understood what Kindertransport means they would have left it alone."

The plaque, which describes the Kindertransport and includes a poem called My Father, was found having been prised from the wall last week**MONDAY or Tuesday** and thrown over the sea wall.

A volunteer for the Harwich Society found it on the beach while out with his grandchildren.

Tendring Council is looking into reattaching the sign.