A floral tribute to a 22-year-old motorcyclist killed earlier this year has been destroyed by council workmen.

The silk flower display, left by the road in Wild Park, Brighton, at the spot where Bryan Virgo died in March, was ripped from the ground and dumped in a storeroom in Stanmer Park.

It now lies broken in pieces in a large bin.

Mr Virgo's family is furious and is demanding Brighton and Hove Council replaces the tribute.

His brother Duncan Virgo, 32, of Newick Road, Moulsecoomb, said: "They've just completely smashed them up. They were in memory of my brother.

"He was very popular and a lot of people are going to be unhappy at what's happened.

"It doesn't show any respect to have a flower display in his memory chucked away like a piece of rubbish."

He added: "The council should have told us before it happened, or at least put a note up by the flowers saying they were going to be removed.

"We would have taken them home if we knew they were going to be moved. There was no need to break them up.

"The council should replace them because it's caused a lot of distress."

The displays, spelling out the words "Bryan" and "Brother", had become a familiar sight to motorists heading north along Lewes Road.

Bryan, of Hartington Road, Brighton, was a drag racing champion.

He died from head injuries on March 5 when his motorbike hit the kerb and he was thrown into a tree.

An inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death.

When the floral memorial went missing earlier this week, the family suspected thieves had taken it.

But they later discovered it was inside the Stanmer Park store.

A council spokeswoman said: "We received quite a few complaints from park users and motorists about the display.

"Some drivers found it distracting.

"There were some dead flowers and plastic flowers. Our workers try to leave fresh flowers and have even cut the grass around the memorial.

"We tried to leave it for as long as possible."