A ROW has broken out over who paid what to refurbish Canvey’s war memorial.

The memorial to the island’s war dead was looking the worse for wear until residents and local councils stumped up the cash to spruce it up ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

The memorial was put up in 1926 and originally stood on the corner of Craven Avenue and Long Road, before it was later moved to the Paddocks, in Long Road.

The newly-refurbished memorial wall is due to be dedicated at the Paddocks by the Rev David Tudor on Sunday, November 9.

Castle Point Council has confirmed it paid no money towards the project, but says it contributed £17,000 in kind – including free technical expertise, help with legal fees and site supervision.

The council has said the War Memorial Hall committee and Canvey Town Council raised the remaining £28,000. However, the memorial hall committee has disputed this and claims Castle Point Council didn’t give anything.

Committee vice chairman, Sandra Durant said: “On this, the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of war, the hall committee was only too delighted to take on the project from the British Legion, which had started to raise funds to rebuild it five years ago.

“The project cost £33,000 and we had help from the town council and local community groups, including Age UK and pensioners clubs. We also staged a variety show to raise funds.

“It is now better than it was, but Castle Point Council has not helped us, or contributed any money at all.”