HOW sad it will be -- both as a loss to East Lancashire's heritage and to the memory of men who gave their lives for their country -- if a cenotaph marking the First World War sacrifice of 15 Darwen men is transported to the Midlands.

It may be that the memorial that was erected at the old Park Road Methodist Church in Darwen, which closed some 20 years ago, will be respected and maintained if it is moved, as planned, next Sunday to the National Memorial Arboretum in South Staffordshire.

It may also be that, there, among the 40,000 trees that have been planted so far as a living tribute to the people of the 20th Century, the Darwen memorial would have quite an appropriate new location, among plots dedicated to the armed forces.

But this does not override the fact that because the memorial belongs to Darwen and its heritage in a spiritual sense, that it is where it should stay. Now that the Park Road chapel is a private home and its owner does not want the memorial in his garden, it is a shame that organisations and churches in Darwen have been able to take up his offer of it -- and that, after apparently being offered it more than 10 years ago, the council is now having to pledge hasty action to keep it in Darwen.

But even at this last minute let everything be done to save this memorial. No matter how many years ago it was that these soldiers gave their lives would it not be a great dishonour to their memory they are forsaken by their home town?