A memorial bench erected for a "much-loved and dedicated" nurse who died with Covid after fighting the pandemic on the frontline has been vandalised by "shameful" yobs.
The family of Janice Glassey, who lost her battle with the virus in April last year, had the bench installed on fields near to Coronation Drive in Widnes, near to where she lived.
The 66-year-old, was a popular figure in Halton and worked visiting people's homes and care facilities, fell ill three days before her retirement and died a month later with Covid-19.
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The mum-of-three had given 14 years of service to the NHS, helping very sick patients with end-of-life care as a healthcare assistant and was engaged to be married.
The bench was placed on the fields after her work colleagues raised funds and a plaque fixed on it with words of tribute about her legacy with the NHS.
But in recent weeks it has been defaced by youths with offensive words daubed on the bench and crude pictures drawn.
Ms Glassey's fiancé discovered the graffiti when he attended the spot where he likes to sit most days to remember his former partner.
The nurse's family have gone to the bench and used chemicals to wash most of the offensive material away, although some of it still remains.
Kerri Glassey, Janice's mum, told the ECHO: "We got a got a phone call on Tuesday, this week, from my mum's partner who was very upset.
"I'm really upset about it too, especially as the plaque is very visible so it was clear it was a memorial bench.
"It's disrespectful.
"I hope the parents of those who did it read about this."
Ms Glassey could have retired 12 months earlier, but she continued to work as she was keen to try and pay her mortgage off.
Her family described her as "a bag of fun" who used to love going shopping and out for cocktails in Liverpool with her daughters and granddaughters.
They said: "She just wanted to live life and was so loving and giving."
Kerri added: "We didn’t have this bench placed here to be drawn on nor did we have it placed here for kids to sit on smoking weed.
"We had it placed here for us as a family to sit and remember our mum, for passers by to take a moment on a nice day to have a rest on their walk to where ever they’re going, basically for anyone to enjoy but definitely NOT for disrespectful people to use as a place to slag off and name call others.
"Absolutely disgusting behaviour and if the people who did this are reading this, then you should feel ashamed of yourself."
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