A WAR memorial plaque damaged in flooding three years ago has been restored to its former glory.

The plaque, which features a roll of honour with 57 names, was previously stored in the cellar at Stubbins Vale Mill to commemorate employees of textile firm Porritt and Spencer, which was based there.

But, when the Boxing Day floods hit the area in 2015, the cellar was flooded. The following spring, the mill’s owners, Voith Fabrics, donated the plaque to the heritage society.

Darwen resident Eric Smith spent eight months restoring the plaque, which had suffered considerable water damage.

On Friday, the plaque was handed over to the Royal British Legion in Central Street in a ceremony attended by about 30 people.

While the roll of honour was being restored, the heritage society also carried out research into the individuals named on it.

While many of those on the list survived the war, three of them died. They were Richard Smith Quinlan, Private Albert Duckworth, and Private Benjamin Wild.

However, the most well-known name on the plaque is Colonel Austin Townsend Porritt, the owner of the family firm at Stubbins Vale Mills. After the war he became the president of the Ramsbottom Branch of the British Legion, and also gifted Nuttall Park to the people of the town in 1928.