TORFAEN council will spend £30,000 repairing and restoring its war memorials.

A major programme of works is due to start this summer to give the county’s monuments a makeover ahead of Remembrance Day.

The work will be carried out by specialist contractors and will be completed before this year’s parades on November 13.

Among the monuments to be spruced up are the Blaenavon War Memorial Clock, which will under go masonry repairs, bronze cleaning and its inscription will be re-enameled.

Pontypool Park War Memorial Gate, will have its bronze plaques professionally cleaned and will have its pillars, walling and balustrade repainted.

Pontymoile Memorial Gates will have its cast bronze plaque cleaned, while Panteg Cemetery War Memorial will have its Forest of Dean steps repaired and restored.

The lead lettering on it will also be re-coated with black enamel.

Pontnewydd Cenotaph, will undergo cleaning and its steps will be cleaned. Enamel will also be reapplied to the lettering on all its inscriptions and its open book memorial.

Its railings and gates will also be repainted.

Cwmbran Park War Memorial will be cleaned, its inscriptions will be re-enameled and its missing bronze fixings will be replaced.

Councillor Bob Wellington, leader of Torfaen council said: “We are very proud of our military heritage in Torfaen and these timely works will ensure the memorials we have across the borough are of a standard that reflects the huge debt of gratitude we owe to those that have served our country.