Personalised items from benches in Wirral have been removed and no one knows why.
The benches along the promenade in New Brighton are often dedicated to the memory of lost family members.
They often provide comfort to those who visit the seats and some have taken to adding other items such as flowers, balloons and personalised ornaments.
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But over the last week many of the objects have gone missing leaving people angry and confused as to where they have gone.
Earlier this week, the ECHO reported how Kellyanne Dooley, 39, was devastated to find her commemorative plates for her dad, nan, grandad and uncle had been removed from a bench.
She said: "My nan bought the bench because she loved going for fish and chips in New Brighton and now me and my family use it as a way to sit and remember them all.
"It is like my safe space, I could sit there for hours. And in lockdown we have learnt to fish over the sea wall from the bench."
Kellyanne said the family often marked special occasions and birthdays at the bench by placing balloons and flowers there, but she had also bought four heart-shaped commemorative slates for each of her lost loved ones and placed them on the bench last December.
Earlier this week she was upset to learn they had been removed and now just wants them back.
She said: "I just don't understand who would move them. They are so personal to us and I just want them back, even if I have to drive to go and pick them up.
"I have never been told I can't put things on the bench and they have never disrupted me or anyone I know sitting on the benches, I often sit there."
Unfortunately, she is not the only one, a woman on Facebook said: "This is just to let you know that Harrison Drive area benches have now been targeted.
"With the exception of one or two benches, everything has now gone from the benches at the Harrison Drive area.
"On Monday when I checked all was intact on these benches. This is not the case this morning. So sorry and sad to report this.
"Do you not realise that by putting these tributes onto the bench this is the only thing we are able to do for our lost loved ones.
"We can't buy a Christmas or birthday present."
Another said: "My brothers bench is at Harrison Drive… Tuesday evening his friends were there, he sent some photos of the sun setting on his bench they left about 9.00 to 9.30pm it was lovely to see with his mementoes on his bench - a photo frame with a poem from his young boys for Father’s Day.
"I went down Wednesday morning all had gone from it… It was heartbreaking to see these items of love cannot be replaced."
People were outraged that people's items had been taken off the benches, one said: "This is soul destroying."
Another added: "I'm livid these benches are people's tribute to loved ones, karma will catch up with them."
Wirral Council confirmed to the ECHO they are not responsible for the removal of any items.
The colourful benches along the sea wall are managed by the Older People's Parliament who also told the ECHO they would never remove items.
Although they did state "bench owners are not given permission by us to place anything on the bench other than an original plaque or any additional plaques purchased from Label n Signs in New Brighton to adhere to health and safety, which we take very seriously."
But they added it was a very sensitive and personal issue that needed to be looked at closer in conjunction with Wirral Council.
Merseyside Police was approached for comment.
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