A MOTHER has said people who continue to vandalise the site where her son died are practically dancing on his grave.

Caroline Hannah, 36, of Old Walcot, lost her seven-year-old son Tyrese when he was struck by a speeding car in Drove Road, Old Town, in March 2008.

Since then, she said the memorial site, which has remained at that spot ever since as a place for family and friends to go and reflect, has been continually trashed by passers- by.

Caroline said in the two years since Tyrese’s death, about 20 glass candle holders have been smashed or stolen and several flower pots have been broken.

She believes many of them may be caused by revellers returning drunk after a night out who may accidentally cause harm, but said this is no excuse.

She said: “People go out of their way to put nice things up there, that’s our memorial.

“Why people can’t respect that is beyond me – they may as well dance on his grave.

“People are just so disrespectful.”

This is not the first time Caroline has spoken of problems at the memorial site.

Two months after Tyrese was killed, the site was targeted by thieves who stole a small toy black rottweiler left by Caroline the day after the tragedy with an attached handwritten message to her son.

The item turned up days later at the Merlin pub, and staff returned it to Caroline after they spotted the appeal in the Adver.

Tyrese was walking with Caroline and their dog Odi when he was hit by a motorist who lost control of his car and mounted the pavement on March 14, 2008.

Tyrese died five hours later in hospital. Odi also died.

Caroline said she rarely ventures along Drove Road, preferring to tend to her son’s grave at the Whitworth Road cemetery, where she goes every day.

She said she will usually go the long way up Victoria Road to Old Town to avoid that route.

”It’s difficult being back there and it’s difficult especially when there’s cars hurtling down the road,” she said.

However, she said for many family and friends the memorial site is important as a place to go and remember Tyrese.

Caroline said: “How do you explain to Tyrese’s friends, aged seven to 10 years old, that the flowers and teddies you left were stolen or destroyed?

“They leave things there from their heart as a token for Tyrese, it’s cruel and unnecessary.

“If the crash hadn’t happened there would be nothing there, but as it did, it should be a poignant reminder to drivers to slow down and drive responsibly, and pedestrians to respect the memorial as it’s not doing any harm to anyone.”