Council wants meeting over Shoreham ribbon removal

Gina Chirico, who is the partner of Mark Trussler, wants the ribbons to remain

Ribbons tied to a bridge commemorating the victims of the Shoreham air disaster will remain in place until a meeting with grieving families is held, West Sussex County Council has said.

The victims' families had been told the ribbons would have to be removed due to "environmental concerns".

But the council has now backtracked following complaints.

The Shoreham toll bridge has become the focus of commemorations for the 11 people who died in the crash.

Soon after a 1950s Hawker Hunter jet crashed on to the A27 on 22 August the toll bridge was covered with flowers from people paying their respects. These were eventually removed.

Council leader Louise Goldsmith said: "We are listening to the friends and families about this extremely sensitive issue and would like to meet them to discuss a way forward.

"The ribbon display will not come down before that meeting. We would ask members of the community to help pick up any ribbons that come off the bridge over the weekend."

The victims:

(Top row, left to right) Matt Jones, Matthew Grimstone, Jacob Schilt, Maurice Abrahams, Richard Smith. (Bottom row, left to right) Mark Reeves, Tony Brightwell, Mark Trussler, Daniele Polito, Dylan Archer, Graham Mallinson

• Matt Jones, 24 - a personal trainer

• Daniele Polito, 23 - he was travelling in the same car as Mr Jones

• Matthew Grimstone, 23 - a Worthing United footballer who worked as a groundskeeper at Brighton & Hove Albion

• Jacob Schilt, 23 - a Worthing United player travelling to a match with Mr Grimstone

• Maurice Abrahams, 76 - a chauffeur on his way to pick up a bride on her wedding day

• Richard Smith, 26, and Dylan Archer, 42 - friends who were going for a bike ride on the South Downs

• Mark Reeves, 53 - he had taken his motorcycle to the perimeter of Shoreham Airport to take photos of the planes

• Tony Brightwell, 53 - an aircraft enthusiast who had learned to fly at Shoreham airfield

• Mark Trussler, 54 - thought to have been riding his motorcycle on the A27

• Graham Mallinson, 72 - a keen photographer and retired engineer