THE family of a motorcyclist tragically killed in a road accident near Horton-in-Ribblesdale have expressed disgust at the removal of memorial tributes.

Close relatives of Adam Taylor, 27, say they had laid fresh tributes at the site on the B6479 between Horton and Selside to coincide with the anniversary of his death on June 3 last year.

But less than a week after they were placed, most had been removed and a special wooden cross bearing his name thrown several feet away.

His mother, Rose Bullock, said she could not understand why anyone would do such a thing, and that it had caused the family a great deal of distress.

She added: "We wanted to do something nice as we come up to the first anniversary, and it's all been destroyed.

"I just think it's so disrespectful and upsetting – I can't understand why anyone would do such a thing.

"The cross was still there, although it had been moved ten yards away, but everything else, the flowers, ornaments and some pebbles we'd put down, had all gone."

The family make regular trips from their home in Darwen, Lancashire, and plan to make a special trip on the anniversary of his death in a week's time with his widow, Chelsey, and twins, Roman and Kendall.

"We've left flowers before and a picture of him, but because it was the year anniversary, we wanted to make it special – it's so disrespectful and hurtful that it's all been destroyed," added Mrs Bullock.

She said the specially-made cross, which bears her son's name and date of his birth and death, is now safely back with her, but they will continue to take flowers and memorial items, pebbles and ornaments to the site in his memory, and will be there on the year anniversary of his death.

Adam, 27, was on a ride with seven other people when his Triumph Daytona left the road and collided with a road sign on the evening of June 3. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A North Yorkshire County Council spokesman said it would not have removed the memorials.

They added: "As highways authority, the county council does not interfere with roadside memorials as a rule.

"As long as they are not a hazard to vehicles or pedestrians on the highway, the council recognises their importance to people who have lost loved ones and would treat them with respect."