A WITNESS has described the moment a reveller climbed a statue dedicated to the town's war hero and planted a gay pride lanyard on top as 'disgraceful'.

Today marked the annual Reading Pride Festival which saw scores of revellers celebrating 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalised in England and Wales.

But one reveller was seen climbing the statue of Trooper Fred Potts, a World War 1 hero who received the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious accolade for a soldier.

Mr Potts, from Reading, was known as the 'hero with a shovel' after he carried his injured comrade Arthur Andrews on a spade during the battle of Gallipoli, despite being injured himself.

On Saturday, his statue had a multicoloured 'Unite' gay pride lanyard hung around the neck.

A witness, who asked not to be named, said: "It's disgraceful. You just don't do that.

"Mr Potts is a war hero, he did not carry out that brave and selfless act for someone to plant anything of any description on his memorial.

"Secondly you don't just climb all over a statue. It's there to be seen and to pay respect to Mr Potts.

"There were several people watching, me and the chap next to me just couldn't believe what we were seeing.

The statue, based outside Reading Crown Court near Forbury Gardens, was unveiled in October 2015.

Mr Potts is Reading's only Victoria Cross Holder.

Others claimed there was nothing wrong with the act and said it was simply a 'harmless bit of fun'.

Matt Harper said: "No real harm done. There were probably many gay soldiers."

Norma Downham added: "It's a lot of hot air over nothing, they may have been showing their respect. They didn't deface it."