THE mother of a motorcyclist killed in an accident is distraught after flowers placed at the scene of his death were removed.

Family and friends of Karl Gibson have kept his memory alive by regularly laying wreaths at the spot where he died seven years ago.

Karl died after his motorcycle was hit by a car travelling on the wrong side of the road in Drakes Way.

For the first time since his death someone has removed the memorials, causing distress to Karl's 84-year-old mother Laura.

She, along with other people who were close to him, had placed colourful flowers, both fresh and artificial, to mark the anniversary of his death on August 18.

But when Laura returned from a pilgrimage to Lourdes in France, there was no trace of the flowers, which are a familiar sight for drivers who travel along that road.

Laura, of Eastcott Hill, said: "For seven years no one has touched the flowers. It broke my heart when people told me the flowers had gone but I thought that could not be. I was so upset.

"People tie them onto a pillar they are always there throughout the year.

"I am so happy to see the flowers, everyone says how lovely to look at them and think of him. It shows people still remember him so much.

"Who could be so mean and low to kill that memory? It makes me feel so hurt."

Karl, who was 29 at the time of his death, worked as a lifeguard at the Oasis and Link leisure centres and was a keen triathelete.

He was adopted as a baby and left school at the age of 16 to became a plumber but went on to study microbiology and biochemistry at London University.

On the day of his death he was on his way to give his cousin a birthday present when a German national driving a Volkswagen car pulled into his path.

The accident was particularly poignant because Karl had beaten cancer nine years before he died.

Laura said the family was still coming to terms with his death seven years on and the missing flowers have caused her more anguish.

"I still don't believe he has gone sometimes," she said. "We took it really badly. I was under shock and I still can't take it in.

"He was such a lively person and full of life. He used to always think of others and was involved in a lot of charity work.

"I still look out for him and at night I wait for him to get home. Sometimes I hear noises and I think it must be him. This has just made things worse and I don't understand why anyone would do such a thing."

Laura added that she had not reported the removal of the flowers to the police but is asking people to leave the flowers alone in respect of her son's memory.