Wirt Ghawdex, the heritage society, has expressed its concern at the way repair works at Xlendi Tower are being carried out.

Although the society welcomed the fact that such works had started after long delays, it said repairs should not be carried out just on the land side but also on the side facing the sea.

Wirt Ghawdex fears that more damage will be inflicted on the tower once winter sets in.

The tower was damaged last winter and the society had protested with the authorities about the delay in carrying out repairs.

The society also noted that a Victoria Regina government ownership marker on the road between Victoria, Gharb and San Lawrenz had disappeared, probably stolen.

These VR rectangular stone blocks were put up along roads during British rule indicating that the land behind them was government property.

The VR marker, which was in an exceptionally good condition, vanished during the recent construction works carried out on this arterial road.

"This is shameful - another precious loss to our ever dwindling national heritage," Wirt Ghawdex said. These markers, which were quite common, have now almost disappeared, sometimes not accidentally but stolen, the society said.