Poppy wreath removed by council

Daren Loader died seven months before his great grandfather

A grandmother has said she was appalled by Hereford City Council's decision to remove a poppy wreath she laid by the cenotaph to remember "lost loved ones".

Joan Roberts laid the wreath for her father Michael Melia, who was in the navy, and grandson Darren Loader, who died in an alleged assault in March.

She said the Royal British Legion told her she could lay a wreath at any time provided it was in a good condition.

The council said people had complained that Darren, 17, was not in the forces.

Army training

Darren had wanted to join the army but died on 13 March following an alleged assault in the Whitecross Road area of Hereford the previous day.

Two Lithuanian men were charged with his murder and remain in custody.

Mrs Roberts' father Michael died this year of cancer, aged 84.

She laid the wreath in tribute to both men at Hereford cenotaph during the 11 November service on Wednesday.

'Reunited in death'

Attached to it she left a double-sided card on which she wrote a tribute to Darren who she said had been determined to pursue an army career, despite failing his initial recruitment test.

He was advised by the recruiting officers to work on his physical training and had been going to the gym in order to re-apply, she said.

On the other side her husband Martin wrote a message to Mr Melia who was injured by a U-boat attack during World War II.

His note read: "Reunited and in our hearts forever."

After the procession, the town clerk Steve Kerry took the wreath inside the town hall.

'Disgusting behaviour'

He said members of the public had complained the tribute for Darren was inappropriate on Armistice Day.

Mr Kerry added: "It was a difficult decision and that's why I took care of that wreath and made sure it was returned intact rather than risking somebody else shifting it or being angry about it."

Mr Roberts said it was "disgusting behaviour".

Before laying the wreath she said she sought guidance from the the Royal British Legion's head office who told her there was no specific policy about wreaths, anyone could lay one for anyone who had died and the only reason they would ever remove a wreath is if it was in a poor condition.

The Royal British Legion was unavailable for comment.