AN appeal to raise £70,000 to restore Barry's Cenotaph and Hall of Memory at the town's Memorial Hall has been launched.

Called Barry Remembers, the appeal wants to restore the Cenotaph and the hall to its former glory by cleaning and repair work.

The Cenotaph has been lined up to be floodlit with trees and landscaping around it to be removed to increase the visibility of the landmark.

A defined path between the hall and the Cenotaph is also planned with disabled access to the Cenotaph. The Hall has the names of the 1,218 people from Barry who gave their lives in military conflict displayed in gold leaf on wooden panels.

Chairman of the Barry Remembers appeal Gareth Howe said: "November 11 next year will see the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Memorial Hall Theatre and the dedication of the Hall of Memory.

"The hall is at the heart of this much-loved building and in which 1,200 names of Barrians who gave their lives for freedom are commemorated."

Mr Howe, whose father helped raise funds for the hall to be built in 1932, appealed for the people of Barry to get behind the project.

He said: "The cost of the hall and Cenotaph was £26,00. In today's currency an astonishing £4 million.

"At a time when the country was recovering from the grip of Depression this was a massive task. But with the help of the Davies family, descendants of the founder of Barry Docks, David Davies, and the wholehearted support of the people of Barry, the newly built Memorial Hall was able to open in 1932.

"We are now asking the whole community of Barry to once again get behind this worthy cause to ensure that by Remembrance Day next year the town once again has a Hall of Memory and Cenotaph of which it can be proud."

To get the appeal under way, the Barry branch of the Royal British Legion were on hand to present a cheque for £500.

John Hobbs, the chairman of the Barry branch, said: "It's a vital job that needs doing."

Donations should be made to: Barry Remembers c/o Barry Memorial Hall Theatre Trust, Barry Memorial Hall, Gladstone Road, Barry. A service of Remembrance will be held at the Cenotaph next Sunday at 11am.