A BATTLE has begun to preserve the memory of 15 World War One soldiers after the monument bearing their names was given to a museum 100 miles away.

The Royal British Legion and a councillor today called for the 15ft-high memorial in the garden of the old Park Road Methodist Church, Darwen, to be given a new home locally at any cost - to prevent the soldiers' sacrifice being forgotten.

In the early 1980s, the church was sold off and converted into a house, the memorial becoming the property of the businessman who bought it. He said he tried in vain to keep the stone memorial, which bears the name of 15 former parishioners who died, in the town after deciding he did not want it in his garden.

He said he offered the memorial to local organisations but they could not afford to pay the thousands of pounds it would cost to move it.

The only takers were the Friends of War Memorials, a national organisation which seeks to preserve such monuments, after it secured a grant to pay for the transfer and the cenotaph's future upkeep.

But that is dependent on the memorial being relocated at its National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, which is 104 miles away.

Territorial Army soldiers are due to dismantle the four pieces of the stone structure on Sunday.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, which had not been aware of the impending relocation, today pledged action.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration at the council, said: "We are looking at potential sites in Darwen and doing all we can to relocate the memorial locally. If it is feasible to move it within the town, we will arrange to have this done."

And Brian Thompson, president of the Darwen branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "It should stay in Darwen. It is important people who gave their lives are remembered in the town.

"It is important to keep that. It is part of the town's heritage and especially at this time when there is a war going on and we are losing men. Are their names going to be on a cenotaph and will that be overlooked and forgotten?"

Coun Karimeh Foster, whose Whitehall ward covers the memorial, said: "It should be respected and cherished. People should know their history and their heritage. Whatever the cost they should keep it, possibly in the Circus area or Bold Venture Park."

The owner of the church, who declined to be identified, said: "I would prefer it to stay in Darwen. It has been offered to the methodists in town, but they couldn't afford to relocate it. I would prefer it to stay in the town, but it is going to get a good home.

"There has never been anyone visiting it or has a wreath been put here in 20 years."

He added that he offered the Friends of War Memorials the cenotaph for a penny three years ago when they came to do a survey of whose names were on it. Sir Donald Thompson, the organisation's director-general, said: "It is unusual to have to move a memorial so far, but it has been offered locally and no one will take it. We have got a grant to look after it perennially which will cover its future maintenance."

The Rev Terry Young, of the Methodist church in Darwen, said: "We spoke to our congregation but no one knew anyone on the memorial.

"We were offered it but there was a large cost involved. We would have to spend a fair bit of money and it is money we don't have.

"There is also the question of where do you put it?

"There isn't room at our two churches in the town. It will be well looked after in Staffordshire."