The mother of seven-year-old Summer Grant has hit out at vandals who trashed a memorial garden erected to celebrate her daughter's life as 'disgusting' and 'disrespectful'.

Norwich Evening News: Summer Grant.Summer Grant. (Image: Archant)

Summer, from Hellesdon, had been playing at a funfair in Harlow, Essex, on March 26 last year, when the bouncy castle she was on blew away in strong winds. She later died from her injuries.

Her family worked alongside staff at Valley Primary Academy, where Summer had served on the school council, to create a garden in her memory.

But this morning teachers were dismayed to find the garden ripped from its bed and obscene graffiti daubed over school walls.

Norwich Evening News: The memorial garden to Summer Grant at Valley Primary Academy which was vandalised last night. Picture: Valley Primary AcademyThe memorial garden to Summer Grant at Valley Primary Academy which was vandalised last night. Picture: Valley Primary Academy (Image: Archant)

Cara Blackie, Summer's mum, urged whoever was responsible to come forward, describing the last year as 'a never ending nightmare'.

'I just don't understand why,' she said. 'I know kids do silly things but I don't know what would go through someone's mind to do this?

'It is very well known what happened to Summer, and it was very obvious what the garden was for.'

Ms Blackie had discussed with the school what to do in memory of Summer, and opted for a garden 'so kids could go there and look at the flowers.'

'I would go in there on occasion too when I go to pick up my other daughter or in the summer holidays,' she added.

'The headteacher called me this morning to tell me what happened. I was just disgusted. It is so disrespectful.

'I think Summer would be very upset by it. When it was first put in and the cherry blossom was planted, we had a Summer day when we put up balloons. I thought then she would have thought it was so special, and for it so be trashed is awful.'

The garden had also been targeted a month earlier, with less damage done, but this time Summer's younger sister had to be told what happened.

'The first time I didn't tell my other daughter but she heard me on the phone, and she is just confused,' added Ms Blackie. 'She is okay now - she's quite a strong little cookie.

'This upsets people and it shouldn't happen - people should be accountable for it. The school said it's not about the money but they put their hand in their own pocket and went out of their way to make the garden look lovely.'

With an Essex police investigation continuing and two people on bail, Ms Blackie said: 'It's like a never ending nightmare'.

'You are forced into something you did not ever expect to happen to your child,' she said. 'It's upsetting. After losing Summer it feels like I have been on another planet since last year.

'We get updates from the police so if there is anything we want to ask they answer our questions. It is more about needing closure over what is happening with the investigation.'

While the garden has now been tidied up, assistant head at Valley Primary Stuart Walker condemned the culprits as having 'no respect', and has passed CCTV to the police.

He said the garden had been created 'to have a place where we could sit and reflect on Summer and her time here.'

'Her mum could come and sit in the garden as well if she wanted to. That is the worst thing. The graffiti can be cleaned off, but the fact this was a memorial garden that has been vandalised doesn't show any respect.

'It is a community here and if there is members of the community that are not being part of that community, that is not right.

'It is not so much about the cost as the impact on the children. We are deeply saddened by the mindless vandalism.'

A spokesman for Norfolk Police said the school was being visited by an officer and the matter will be investigated.

Anyone with information about those responsible should contact police on 101 and quote reference NC-17052017-87

Investigations continue

Two people arrested in connection with the death of Summer Grant have been rebailed this month.

A man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence after the tragedy in which Summer, from Hellesdon, died at an Easter funfair in Harlow, Essex on March 26 last year.

An inquest opening in April heard the Valley Primary School pupil was fatally injured when a bouncy castle blew away.

She was treated at the scene by paramedics but died later in hospital from multiple injuries.

Essex Police launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Summer's death.

A 24-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man, both from Cambridgeshire, arrested in connection with the death have been rebailed until June 15.