A shrine to two teenagers killed in a car crash in Plymouth is to be removed after offensive comments were posted about it on a newspaper’s website.

The Herald carried a story about the first anniversary of the deaths of 13-year-old Jade Brennand and Roxanne Trim, aged 17.

But after reading negative comments posted under the online story, Jade’s mother Helen has decided to take down the flowers and cards from the scene of the tragedy, in Plymouth city centre.

Herald web editor Neil Shaw said: “We had about 70 or 80 comments with a lot people saying they were sick of hearing about it.

“There were lots of negative comments about the shrine, saying they didn’t like driving past it.

“The family saw them and added their own comments but decided because of the nature of them that they would remove the shrine.

“We monitor them as they come in. We saw them and thought they were harsh but decided to leave them on.

“To actually take direct action like this, it’s the first time we’ve seen that – and probably not the last.”

When the Herald ran the follow-up story and pictures detailing the decision to remove the shrine, the website was flooded with further comments backing it.

The teenagers had got into a car that had been stolen.

The driver is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence after admitting two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.