A REMEMBRANCE service in memory of those killed in the Blitz is under threat because of 'shameful' acts of vandalism.

On the 80th anniversary of the deaths of local men, women and children killed in the bombing raids, the memorial site in Woodhall Park has come under attack - with seats and the plaque destroyed.

Mindless yobs using the memorial as a drinking den have even smashed bottles off of the cairn itself.

Army veterans who lead the annual service which is held at the site each November say it cannot go ahead there in this state.

Council leader Stephen McCabe has now stepped in to urge River Clyde Homes, who own the ground, to take immediate action to clear it up and rescue the act of remembrance dedicated to the victims of the German air raids during the Second World War.

Mr McCabe, who was brought up in the town, condemned those who have wrecked the memorial.

He said: "It is disgraceful that the memorial is in this state.

"This is a cairn that is dedicated to men, woman and children in Port Glasgow who lost their lives.

"It honours people who lived in their community, it could even have been their relatives."

All the planters and seats that surround the cairn have been vandalised.

The area is strewn with broken and glass and other empty alcohol containers.

The cairn was built as part of a regeneration project and it commemorates the 74 civilians of the town who died when the Nazis unleashed air raids.

Thirty victims perished in a shelter in Woodhall Terrace.

During two nights of terror on May 6 and 7 April 1941 hundreds of people across Inverclyde lost their lives, with thousands injured

The Greenock branch of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders' Association has tended to the Port cairn and members have been left sickened by what has happened to it, especially in such a significant anniversary year.

Secretary, Chris Folan, 68, said: "There is no way the service can go ahead with the memorial in this state.

"We couldn't bring people up to it and we are not in a position to do it ourselves.

"Normally we would go up there and fix it, but none of us are in good health.

"It would be a real shame if the remembrance service had to be cancelled.

"We put the plaque there because we thought it would make people think twice about vandalising the cairn if they knew why it was there.

"The paths all need taken care of too and it is so sad to see it like this."

Mr McCabe says he has made direct contact with River Clyde Homes to ask them to take action urgently.

He added: "At the end of the day it is their responsibility to take care of it and I hope there is something they can do so the service goes ahead."