The mysterious appearance and disappearance of a metal plaque on a bench in Wanstead has generated national news coverage.

The BBC and Sky have featured stories about a memorial to former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein which was attached to a wooden bench outside the Oxfam charity shop in the High Street.

Local resident and journalist Victoria Richards spotted the plaque which read: “In Loving Memory Of Saddam Hussein 1937-2006”.

She subsequently tweeted a picture of the tribute and her post was retweeted over 5,000 times and received more than 32,000 likes.

Following the furore the plaque was quickly taken down by Redbridge Council.

“We didn’t give permission for this to be put up and it has been removed,” a spokesperson for the Council said.