An overwhelming response from Surrey Comet readers has ensured a community can continue its annual commemoration of its war dead.

Two months ago St John the Baptist Church in Old Malden feared it would have to cancel its service after the war memorial where the two minutes silence is held was knocked down.

But schoolchildren, veterans, businesses and charities have rallied around to raise more than £3,000 to restore it.

Year 3 students at Malden Parochial Primary School held a sponsored bike ride after Ben Davis, son of church warden Tony Davis, showed his class the Surrey Comet’s front page coverage.

Classmate Joel Arulpragasam, seven, wrote: “Ben brought in a newspaper because his dad was in it and then we knew the memorial had been vandalised.

“Year 3 wants to help because it is for people who have died at war. So many of us are beavers and brownies and we care about the war memorial. The war memorial is very special.”

Enclosing a cheque for £40, IF James wrote: “Being a member of the church and also having been in the armed services during the Second World War, I hope the memorial can be repaired before this year’s service.”

Maureen Hawkins, a church member known as prolific knitter Granny Mo, sent a £20 donation from advance sales of baby knitwear.

The Surrey Comet’s team of four reporters completed the 8-mile Run Kingston event to help raise funds.

Others who dug into their pockets included Riverside Cleaning in Portsmouth Road, Surbiton, Kingston and New Malden rotary clubs, the Malden and Coombe Royal British Legion, Your Move in New Malden, Tudor Williams department store, and Woody’s bar in Kingston.

Old Malden councillor David Fraser wrote: “[The vandalism] has caused me to feel both sorrow and anger. Thanks to the Surrey Comet for taking the initiative to start this fund.”