Vandals twice trashed a memorial to a young man only a month before the second anniversary of his death in a car accident.

Flowers and ribbons placed in memory of Jay Aaron Ansell were found strewn across the floor by his family.

They found a plaque hanging “in loving memory” of the 20-year-old thrown in a ditch and damaged.

Jay’s sister Zara, from Handcross, tidied up the site in Harvest Hill, between Burgess Hill and Ansty, but within an hour of them leaving they discovered it had been attacked once again.

Ms Ansell, 28, said: “We are all really upset and with Christmas coming up and the second anniversary of Jay’s death, it has hurt us all.

“Jay would not hurt a fly and he did not have any enemies. It is all very strange, we have not got a clue and it just makes no sense.”

Jay was killed in a crash at the site in January 2013 and was described by his father, Malcolm, as a “lovely boy and a lovely son” who would “do so much for people”.

The family reported the damage to the police, who are investigating.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Flowers and ribbons which had been put round the tree had been scattered. The plaque had been damaged, taken off the tree and thrown into a ditch.

“Extra tributes were put out and within an hour of that happening they had been scattered around again.

“We are looking for a dark blue Ford Focus seen going in the direction of Burgess Hill.”

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting serial 672 of 9/12, email: 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.