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Police probe after Leah Daley tributes left at The Leas bandstand in Folkestone go missing

13:48, 13 June 2024

updated: 09:00, 17 June 2024

Police are investigating the disappearance of tributes placed in memory of a 24-year-old woman who was missing for 12 days.

Friends and family of Leah Daley left cards, candles and flowers at The Leas bandstand in Folkestone on the day her body was found.

Tributes left to Leah Daley at The Leas bandstand in Folkestone have gone missing
Tributes left to Leah Daley at The Leas bandstand in Folkestone have gone missing

But police have now launched an investigation after the tributes, including two large banners, were removed from the Victorian landmark.

Leah went missing on May 5 and her body was discovered in undergrowth at The Warren on May 17.

A huge effort was launched to locate her - including police appeals, a Facebook group called Leah’s Search and the circulating of the hashtag #findleahdaley.

Commenting on the group this week, a number of residents have said how sad they are to hear about the missing items.

"Someone must know where the things are. I really do hope you find everything," one said.

Leah’s family say they are “very concerned” that items from Leah's vigil have been removed.

“We have contacted the local councils and waste service and they have not removed it,” they said.

“There have been some comments on Facebook stating that two people were seen bagging up the items. We have reported this to the police and there is a crime reference number 46/94664/24.

“We ask that if anybody has or knows the whereabouts of these items that they return them please.”

Leah Daley, 24, went missing in Folkestone on May 5
Leah Daley, 24, went missing in Folkestone on May 5
Mourners at a vigil for Leah Daley on May 17
Mourners at a vigil for Leah Daley on May 17

Folkestone and Hythe District Council, which owns the bandstand, says it “does not believe the tributes were removed by any of our teams”.

It said its waste contractor Veolia and Folkestone Festivals - a month-long event which sees live music performed at the bandstand at weekends - “have both assured us they were not involved in taking away items”.

Police say inquiries are underway to establish the full circumstances.

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