Council’s plea after much-loved Jarrow Crusade statue is vandalised

At around 12.40pm on Wednesday, January 22, Dan Lake, a local photographer was out with his camera in Jarrow.

He walked towards the Jarrow Crusade statue located outside Morrisons but when he arrived, he noticed something odd.

The eyes had a substance on them which made them appear as though they were crying.

Dan said: “It looked like they had paint on them. I asked a woman sitting there and she had noticed it too. I wondered what it was so I went up to it and touched it then noticed that I could remove it quite easily. It was like silicone or gel.”

After he realised that he could remove it himself, he did.

Dan added: “It’s such a shame that someone could be so disrespectful.

“Every statue was covered in it. Even the baby statue was defaced. I thought maybe it was an artistic statement because it was such a strange thing to do.

“Luckily, it could be removed so quickly rather than being dry paint or something more difficult to get rid of.

“I have lived in the area for years and I have spent a lot of time in Jarrow and I have never seen anything like this before.”

South Tyneside Council are now appealing for information to try and trace the vandal.

Councillor Joan Atkinson, Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety, said: “It is sad and disappointing that mindless vandals have done damage to this statue.

“The Jarrow Crusade holds a special place in the hearts and minds of the people of the Borough and I am sure everyone will feel disgusted by this wanton vandalism of a statue which serves to remind us all of the marchers’ historic actions.”

Councillor Atkinson has urged anyone who witnessed the vandalism to report it by calling on 0191 427 7000.

She added: “All calls will be treated in the strictest of confidence."