Council ask Ben Moncrieff's mother to remove memorial

Sharon Hendry, Ben's mum, called the decision to remove the memorial "heartless"

A grieving mum has accused a council of being "heartless" after it asked her to remove a memorial to her murdered son from a city centre.

Ben Moncrieff, 18, died after he was stabbed by another teenager on Southgate Street in Bath on 6 May.

Bath and North East Somerset Council has asked his mother Sharon Hendry to remove the memorial of photos and flowers.

It said a plaque in Ben's memory has been placed on a nearby bench.

A 16-year-old was found guilty of Ben's murder in October after a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Ms Hendry said: "It's really heartless and unsensitive from the council as the memorial isn't harming anyone.

"I wanted Ben remembered for who he was. He was beautiful and very popular.

'It helps with closure'

"Bath is a small place and a lot of people knew Ben and feel this pain. This memorial helps with closure.

"This is the place Ben was murdered, it's just awful.

"My message to the council is, please can we keep this memorial for Ben.

"We will keep the flowers and pictures tidy. It's not hurting anybody, we just really need the comfort [of] visiting the memorial.

"The silence in my home since Ben has gone is so hard to deal with. Every time I get up, I can't believe he's gone and it's never going to get any better."

An online petition launched in an effort to keep the memorial tree has been organised by Mr Moncrieff's girlfriend Teyana King.

Ben's family and friends gathered at the memorial on Sunday

Councillor Tim Ball, from Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: "Like many other councils we do have sensitive decisions to take in regard of photographs and flowers left in public spaces as tributes to loved ones.

"Our thoughts continue to be with Ben's mum, his family and his friends.

"We have supported Ben's mum, who requested a lasting memorial near his tree and a plaque was placed on a new bench near the tree last week.

"We hope Ben's mum and friends understand this and see the plaque on the bench in the city centre as the public reminder of Ben's life."