The heartbroken family of a motorcyclist who was killed in a car crash have been told to remove parts of a roadside memorial to the young father after just one complaint because it is “distracting” to drivers.

Father-of-one Duwayne Pocock was just 24 when he tragically died on the A4010 in Askett in February 2015.

The keen motorcyclist had come off his bike and was laying injured in the road when another driver hit him, thinking she had hit a rubbish bag. He sadly passed away days later in hospital.

Since his death, Duwayne’s devastated family have maintained a roadside tribute in his memory, with a small cross and lantern marking the spot he was injured, and his parents regularly go over to put balloons there.

Although the tribute has been in place for almost two years, Duwayne’s family have now been told to remove the lantern because it could be dazzling and distracting other drivers.

His distraught sister, Kirsty Pocock, who described her younger brother as having a “caring, loving personality and positive outlook of life”, said the lantern should be able to stay.

She said: “It is a really small lantern and it’s really dimly lit – it’s no bigger than a house candle. They have only had one complaint and now we’re being made to take it down. We’re really not happy about it.

“Myself and my partner go over as often as possible to change the batteries and make sure it’s all clean and tidy around the cross.

“Street lights, car lights and roadworks lights as well as emergency vehicle lights are far more distracting to motorists than a simple little lantern placed in memory of my little brother who is missed, remembered and respected hugely by so many people in the small town he grew up - leaving his happy, bubbly personality with anyone who spent time with him.”

In a social media post, Kirsty asked drivers who use the road if they found it distracting – with many agreeing it was not.

A petition is now going round to houses in Princes Risborough, where Duwayne’s parents lived for more than 20 years.

Mark Averill, head of highways at Bucks County Council said: “It was recently brought to our attention by a member of the public that they considered the memorial to Duwayne was causing a distraction to passing motorists.

“Whilst fully appreciating the family’s desire to erect a roadside memorial, TfB has a duty of care to other road users and to investigate public concerns.

"As a result TfB asked Thames Valley Police to approach the family to request that the lantern is either removed or not lit.

“Our policy/service principle on roadside memorials was reviewed and changed as a result of a request from HM Coroner following an inquest into another fatal road traffic collision where the presence of memorial candles and lanterns may have been a contributory factor.

“Temporary tokens of remembrance are permitted however the placing of lanterns or candles, which have the potential to cause distraction to other road users, are not.

“The purpose of the request was to make the family aware of the complaint received and give them the opportunity to adjust the memorial accordingly."