A crowd of Dovorians were appalled to see a man being ‘disrespectful’ at a Lights Out memorial event on Monday night.

The hour-long remembrance took place at the Dover Memorial statue, outside the town council offices to commemorate the fallen soldiers in the First World War.

All forms of light were extinguished to mark the time in which Europe emerged into darkness 100 years, then on.

But one man, said to be Polish, was making rude gestures during the minute’s silence according to one resident, who asked not to be named.

He said: “The man was just making out he was mourning and kept dropping to his knees clenching his fists at the sky then looked as if he was doing the YMCA. I think he was mocking the speeches as every time something was said he would call out “oh yes.”

It is then alleged that the man stepped over the threshold and climbed onto the memorial statue.

The witness who was at the event, continued: “It was disgusting, mocking the lives of the fallen.

“Without those people that gave the lives so bravely this country wouldn’t be around like it is today. It makes my blood boil how disrespectful people can be.”

It is believed the offender was removed from the area by a police officer who was present at the event.

Mayor of Dover, Pam Brivio said: " He was a little out of order but calmed down when asked to."

To see how Dover remembered the fallen soldiers from the First World War, see this week's Mercury, out on Thursday.