THERE are times when a news story should provoke all of us to stop in our tracks and wonder what on earth the world is coming to.

Today is just such a day. On Page 3 we report how thieves have stolen part of the memorial to the Hagley High School pupils killed in the M40 minibus accident.

In the story, we report on the shock, the outrage and the sadness of members of the community who are asking "who could commit such a theft"?

It almost beggars belief that the thief - or thieves - went equipped to remove the irreplaceable carved panel from the memorial in the Senses Garden in Kidderminster.

But it seems that's what's happened. Tools must have been used to remove the panel, which was fixed to the ground on a steel spike and secured by steel bands.

In all, 12 pupils and a teacher were killed on the motorway in 1993 when their minibus crashed into a stationary lorry.

The whole community rallied round to establish the memorial garden, which was dedicated not only to their memory of the M40 victims but also to all children who have died.

Whoever decided to sully their memory by committing this theft should hang their head in shame.

Their conscience - if they have one - should lead them to hand back the panel, undamaged.

District council officer Chris Connor says it probably would not look to prosecute if the panel was returned safely.

We would add our voice to his in appealing for anyone with information about its whereabouts to contact the police or Wyre Forest District Council.

This theft must be devastating for the parents of the youngsters who died in the accident. It's vital that the carved centrepiece should be returned to its rightful place as soon as possible.