Christine Bonner, whose son Cpl Darren Bonner died in an explosion in the Helmand Province in May last year while serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, met Gerry Taylor, owner of Taylor’s Foundry in Hollands Road, on Tuesday.

Mr Taylor stepped in after thieves stole a bronze plaque from where 31-year-old Cpl Bonner's ashes were scattered.

“It is just so despicable. You can’t get much lower at the end of the day, can you?

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, that scumbags had broken into that crematorium and stolen this little plaque. It is probably only worth £2 but somebody somewhere has bought this thing knowing what it is.”

Mr Taylor contacted Ms Bonner, who lives near Peterborough. Cpl Bonner, lived in Gorleston but his ashes were scattered in Enfield Crematorium, close to where his dad lives.

Mr Taylor said: “I started watching the report on BBC Look East and even before it had finished I was on my phone trying to track down their number so they could put me in touch with the family.”

Ms Bonner came to see him at his foundry before both headed to the crematorium to see where the new plaque would go and what security measures could be added.

“It was an emotional meeting. She was very friendly, very nice, very appreciative of what I was doing. It is nice that I am able to do something to help this family,” Mr Taylor said.